Health Screening

1
Health Screening
2
Definition

• "Screening is a public health service in which
  members of a defined population, who do not
  necessarily perceive they are at risk of, or are
  already affected by a disease or its
  complications, are asked a question or offered a
  test, to identify those individuals who are more
  likely to be helped than harmed by further tests
  or treatment to reduce the risk of a disease or
  its complications.
• UK National Screening Committee (NSC)

3
When?

• Screening is used at all stages of life, even
  antenatal.
• Screening is used to determine if there is a
  problem that requires medical intervention.
• It is often used where early detection can make a
  huge difference to the individual prognosis

4
Antenatal Screening

• Screening for haematological conditions
• Screening for fetal anomalies
• Screening for infections
• Screening for clinical conditions

5
Haematological conditions

• Anaemia lack of iron
• Blood typing to determine the rhesus factor of
  the mother and baby

6
Screening for abnormalities

• ultrasound scan to
• screen for structural anomalies, ideally between
  18 and 20 weeks gestation,
• By April 2007, pregnant women should be offered
  screening
• for Downs syndrome with a test which provides a
  detection
• rate above 75 and a false-positive rate of less
  than 3.

7
Screening for infections

• includes
• Asymptomatic bacteriuria this can cause
  premature birth
• Hepatitis B virus HIV to reduce risk of
  passing disease from mother to child
• Rubella mothers identified as being at risk
  will be recommended to have inoculation following
  birth fetus is at risk from infection.
• Syphilis
• All tests should be offered to pregnant women but
  the individual can decide if they wish to have
  the tests.

8
Clinical conditions

• Include
• High Blood Pressure (pre-eclampsia)
• Placenta Previa

9
New Born

• http//www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/newborn/download/leaflet/
  newborn_bloodspot_screening_english.pdf
• This pdf file contains all the information about
  screening tests and the reasons for the tests for
  newborn babies.

10
Children

• Neonatal
• Cataracts
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Cryptorchidism
• Congenital dislocation of hips
• School entry
• Height weight
• Hearing
• Sight
• Dental Check ups - annual

11
Adult

• Cervical Cancer women of child bearing age
• Breast Cancer women over 55
• Thyroid Disease women over 50
• Diabetic Retinopathy eye disease in diabetics
• Coronary Heart Disease

12
Older Adults

• Bone Density osteoporosis - women
• Hearing men and women
• Stroke men and women

13
Summary

• Screen takes place across a person life
• Screening includes tests e.g.
• X-rays
• Blood tests
• Visual inspections (e.g. teeth) etc
• Screen may be for whole population or for section
  of population.
• Screening helps to detect disease or problems
  early enough to make a difference to outcome

14
Reports on Screening

• For background reading on screening and screening
  programmes in the UK, see these reports contained
  in Nelh library
• First report of the National Screening Committee
• Second report of the National Screening Committee
  
• New World Symphony - screening and quality
  management in the reorganised NHS in England