American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Annual Recommendations On Preventive Pediatric Care

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released its 2023 Bright Futures recommendations for preventive pediatric health care, also known as the Periodicity Schedule. The AAP describes the screenings and assessments recommended at each well-child visit from infancy through adolescence in order to optimize healthy growth and development, acknowledging that they are designed for the care of healthy children who are developing in a satisfactory fashion. This year, the schedule has been updated to extend the upper age limit for HIV screening from 18 to 21 years to align with recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, according to a policy statement published in the April 2023 Pediatrics (published online March 20). This change also aligns with AAP policy, “Adolescents and Young Adults: The Pediatrician’s Role in HIV Testing and Pre- and Postexposure HIV Prophylaxis.” The Periodicity Schedule, written by the Committee on Practice and Ambulatory Medicine and Bright Futures Periodicity Schedule Workgroup, will be updated on the AAP.org website (www.aap.org/periodicityschedule).

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.