Overview

What is early disease detection?

Early disease detection is the use of:

• Screening tests to find health problems before symptoms appear.
• Diagnostic tests, medical exams, and self-exams to find a disease or other health problem early in its course.

Why should you think about early disease detection?

Often, the earlier a disease is diagnosed, the more likely it is that it can be cured or successfully managed. Managing a disease, especially early in its course, may lower its impact on your life or prevent or delay serious complications.

Who develops recommendations for early disease detection?

Expert panels of health professionals develop screening recommendations and publish them as guidelines for all health professionals to use. For example, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American College of Physicians both have guidelines for cholesterol screening, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines on early childhood screening for many different conditions.

Sometimes different panels make different recommendations. In these situations, talk with your doctor to decide which guidelines best meet your health needs.

How do you know what tests to have?

The tests suggested for you depend on your age, health, and gender. Often, they depend on your risk factors too. Risk factors might include family history, such as having a close relative with cancer, and lifestyle habits, such as smoking. Cholesterol screening, for example, is recommended for people who have a family history of early coronary artery disease.

Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant may be screened for genetic conditions, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions that may affect themselves or their baby.

When you are thinking about getting a screening test, talk with your doctor. Find out about the disease, what the test is like, the risks and benefits of the test, and the cost. Think about what action you are willing to take if you have the condition. For example, if you are at risk for osteoporosis and want to get tested, think about your willingness to take medicine or make lifestyle changes if you test positive for this condition. When you get a test for cancer, you can ask your doctor how likely it is that the test would miss some cancers (false negative), show something that looks like a tumor when it’s not one (false positive), or find a cancer that will never cause a problem. Tests are important tools, but they have limits.

To learn more about suggested tests, review the medical test information (What is a PDF document?) form with your doctor.

When should you be tested?

When and how often you get screening tests may depend on your age, gender, family history, lifestyle, health status, and the cost of testing. Your doctor may suggest certain screening times based on expert guidelines. In some cases, testing is done as part of a routine checkup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Screening, Birth to 12 Months

It's important for your baby to have regularly scheduled checkups, often called well-baby visits, starting shortly after birth. During these visits, the doctor examines your baby for possible problems and asks you questions about your baby's growth and development.

At each well-baby visit, the doctor or nurse will check your baby's:

• Vision, if he or she feels that it is necessary.
• Length, weight, and head circumference.
• Hip growth, to check for developmental dysplasia of the hip.

It's also recommended that your baby have developmental delay screening and a blood test for iron-deficiency anemia.

All states require newborn screening, although the tests required vary from state to state. These tests can help detect serious problems that could affect your baby's long-term health. They may include:

• Galactosemia test.
• Hearing tests.
• Phenylketonuria (PKU) screen.
• Sickle cell disease test.
• Thyroid hormone tests (for congenital hypothyroidism).

A hematocrit test may be done if your doctor is concerned about your baby's red blood cell count.

If the doctor is concerned that your child has been exposed to certain substances or diseases, tests may include:

• Lead screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.

For more information on important markers (milestones) of infant growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Newborn and Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months.

Screening, 13 Months to 5 Years

It's important for your child to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups, often called well-child visits. During these visits, your child's doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child for possible problems.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• Behavioral concerns such as temper tantrums, thumb-sucking, breath-holding, and aggressive behavior that hurts others emotionally or physically (bullying).
• Blood pressure screening. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year, beginning at age 3.
• Developmental delay screening, including two checks for autism.
• Head circumference until 24 months of age.
• Hearing.
• Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
• Vision.

If risk factors are present, other tests may include:

• Lead screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.

A hematocrit test may be done if your doctor is concerned about your child's red blood cell count.

Regular dental checkups are recommended for all children.

For more information on the milestones of early childhood growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months and Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years.

Screening, 6 to 10 Years

It's important for your child to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups (usually once a year). At each well-child visit, your child's doctor will check to see whether your child is growing and developing as expected. The goal is to find out early if your child has any problems that could affect his or her health and well-being.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• Behavioral concerns, such as temper tantrums and aggressive behavior that hurts others emotionally or physically (bullying).
• Blood pressure screening. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year.
• Hearing.
• Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
• School concerns, such as grades, favorite subjects, and the teacher's idea of how your child is doing at school.
• Scoliosis.
• Vision.

Other tests may include:

• Diabetes type 2 screening.
• Hematocrit test, which checks the amount of red blood cells.
• Lead screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.

Regular dental checkups are recommended for all children.

For more information on the milestones of early childhood growth and development, see the topic Growth and Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years.

Screening, 11 to 24 Years

It's important for your child to continue to have regularly scheduled checkups (usually once a year) through the teen years. At each well-child visit, the doctor will check your child's growth and development and examine your child for possible problems.

Checks at well-child visits include:

• School and behavioral concerns, such as failing classes or dropping out of school, relationship problems with friends and family that affect home or school life, severe mood swings, lack of interest in normal activities and withdrawal from others, being physically aggressive, becoming sexually active, and using tobacco or drugs.
• Blood pressure. It is important for your child to have his or her blood pressure checked every year. After age 21, he or she can follow the adult blood pressure screening guidelines.
• Hearing.
• Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI).
• Scoliosis.
• Vision (children and teens).
• Vision (adults).

Other tests may include:

• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Breast cancer screening for females.
• Cervical cancer screening for females.
• Cholesterol screening (children and teens).
• Cholesterol screening (adults).
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening for children and teens.
• Diabetes type 2 screening for adults.
• Gestational diabetes for females.
• Hematocrit test, which checks the amount of red blood cells.
• HIV test.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Testicular cancer screening for males.
• Tuberculosis screening.

Pregnant women or those trying to become pregnant may be screened for genetic conditions, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions. For more information, see the topic Pregnancy.

Dental checkups are recommended for all children, teens, and young adults once or twice a year.

For more information on the milestones of teen growth and development, see the topics Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years and Growth and Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years.

Screening, 25 to 49 Years

Early disease detection during adulthood is intended to identify diseases that may develop as you age. Routine checkups and screening are important to stay in good health.

How often you have the following tests depends on your age, your health, and things that increase your risk for specific diseases. Tests that may be done at your routine checkups include:

• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Blood pressure screening.
• Breast cancer screening for women.
• Cervical cancer screening for women.
• Cholesterol screening.
• Colorectal cancer screening.
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Dental checkup.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening.
• Gestational diabetes screening for women.
• Hearing tests.
• HIV test.
• Prostate cancer screening for men.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Skin cancer screening.
• Testicular cancer screening for men.
• Thyroid disease screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Vision tests and glaucoma screening.

Monitor your weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics Weight Management and Obesity.

Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant may be screened for genetic conditions, sexually transmitted infections, and other conditions. For more information, see the topic Pregnancy.

Sometimes doctors automatically schedule routine tests because they think that's what patients expect. But sometimes research shows that testing may not be useful or worth the risks or costs. For example, experts say that routine heart tests can be a waste of time and money. For more information, see Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?

Screening, 50 to 64 Years

As you age, the risk of developing some diseases increases. Routine checkups and screening tests are important for you to stay in good health.

For a screening checklist, see www.ahrq.gov/ppip/men50.htm if you are a man and www.ahrq.gov/ppip/women50.htm if you are a woman.

How often you have the following tests depends on your age, your health, and things that increase your risk for specific diseases. Tests that may be done at your routine checkups include:

• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Blood pressure screening.
• Breast cancer screening for women.
• Cervical cancer screening for women.
• Cholesterol screening.
• Colorectal cancer screening.
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Dental checkup.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening.
• Hearing tests.
• HIV test.
• Osteoporosis screening.
• Prostate cancer screening for men.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Skin cancer screening.
• Thyroid disease screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Vision tests and glaucoma screening.

After reviewing all of the research, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has not recommended for or against routine screening for dementia in older adults.¹

Monitor your weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics Weight Management and Obesity.

Sometimes doctors automatically schedule routine tests because they think that's what patients expect. But sometimes research shows that testing may not be useful or worth the risks or costs. For example, experts say that routine heart tests can be a waste of time and money. For more information, see Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?

Screening, 65 Years and Older

As you age, the risk of developing some diseases increases. Routine checkups and screening tests are important for you to maintain good health.

How often you have the following tests depends on your age, your health, and things that increase your risk for specific diseases. Tests that may be done at your routine checkups include:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for men.
• Alcohol abuse (misuse) screening.
• Blood pressure screening.
• Breast cancer screening for women.
• Cervical cancer screening for women.
• Cholesterol screening.
• Colorectal cancer screening.
• Coronary artery disease risk screening.
• Dental checkups.
• Depression screening.
• Diabetes type 2 screening.
• Hearing tests.
• HIV test.
• Osteoporosis screening.
• Prostate cancer screening for men.
• Sexually transmitted infection screening.
• Skin cancer screening.
• Thyroid disease screening.
• Tuberculosis screening.
• Vision tests and glaucoma screening.

After reviewing all of the research, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has not recommended for or against routine screening for dementia in older adults.¹

Monitor your weight, and see your doctor if you suddenly or consistently gain or lose weight. For more information, see the topics Weight Management and Obesity.

Sometimes doctors automatically schedule routine tests because they think that's what patients expect. But sometimes research shows that testing may not be useful or worth the risks or costs. For example, experts say that routine heart tests can be a waste of time and money. For more information, see Heart Tests: When Do You Need Them?