Family Physicians in Wichita Kansas may be the first health care practitioners to suspect a child or adolescent has scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine. The American Academy of Family Physicians advises against routine screening for the condition because of the possibility of false positive diagnoses and undue stress for the youngster. Nevertheless, when a family doctor sees evidence of spinal abnormalities, this physician will likely urge the parents to seek a definitive diagnosis from a specialist.
Scoliosis may not develop until a child reaches puberty, so parents should not feel guilty or frustrated that the problem was not detected sooner. Researchers are still not sure why scoliosis occurs around this age. It may be due to hormonal changes or rapid body growth. Patients often have no symptoms of back pain or other problems. Family Physicians in Wichita Kansas may discover the issue while evaluating the youngster during an athletic physical or while checking the child’s posture during a routine exam. They may notice that one shoulder is a bit higher than the other or they may see a barely noticeable hump on one side of the back. Contact Wichita Family Medicine Specialists LLC at any time to schedule these types of physical examinations.
Most occurrences of scoliosis at this age are medically known as idiopathic, meaning they have no apparent cause. Researchers have found that a relatively small percentage of the cases may be genetic and run in the family. X-rays are effective diagnostic tools to verify whether there is a spinal abnormality. Depending on the family practice clinic, X-rays may be taken there, or the patient may be referred to a facility with radiography equipment.
Treatment for the condition may require wearing a brace. Kids of this age are likely to feel self-conscious about both the diagnosis and the treatment. Puberty is the time when young persons are becoming especially interested in the possibility of a boyfriend or girlfriend, and they worry about their appearance. Parents will need to be very supportive. General practice doctors may be able to point the family to counseling professionals who can provide an unbiased source of guidance and a listening ear.
