Which Ultrasounds Are Important for Your Child and When

Parents often ask which ultrasounds a child needs by the age of one. In the first year of life, a baby must undergo several mandatory ultrasound examinations — they help check for developmental disorders of the internal organs, nervous system, and musculoskeletal system that are not visible externally. At this age, many pathologies are easiest to correct.

Why ultrasounds are performed even on the youngest patients

Ultrasound is a safe, painless, and informative diagnostic method. It is used even for newborns. The device uses high-frequency sound waves, not X-rays. Most examinations require no special preparation.

According to pediatric recommendations, screening ultrasounds should be performed at specific age windows: at 1 month, at 3 months, and by 1 year. It is best not to miss these time frames.

Neurosonography

Neurosonography — an ultrasound of the brain through the fontanelles — is performed on newborns and children until the fontanelles close (usually up to 12 months).

The examination allows assessment of brain structures and detection of cysts, hemorrhages, signs of hydrocephalus, or perinatal central nervous system (CNS) damage.

It is especially important to perform neurosonography on a child born under difficult conditions: premature babies, after prolonged or rapid labor, or with umbilical cord entanglement.

Yulia Shilova, ultrasound physician at Kandinsky Clinic:

"Neurosonography is best done in the first month of life, while the image is as clear as possible. This is one of the examinations that is truly important not to miss."

Ultrasound of the hip joints

Ultrasound of the hip joints is a mandatory examination for a child aged 1–3 months. It helps detect dysplasia — a disorder of the formation of the joint socket, which, if found early, responds well to treatment without surgery.

Hip dysplasia occurs in 5–50 newborns per 1000, more often in girls than in boys. It may be invisible externally, so ultrasound is the most reliable way to detect it in infancy.

Abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary tract

Both examinations are performed at around 1 month of age and then again at 1 year.

The physician evaluates the condition of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This helps detect developmental anomalies, cysts, and signs of inflammation. Abdominal ultrasound is performed on an empty stomach (for children under one year, 2–3 hours without food is sufficient).

Polina Lavrova, ultrasound physician at Kandinsky Clinic:

"Most pediatric anomalies of internal organs do not manifest clinically — the child grows and looks healthy. That is why a scheduled ultrasound at 1 month and at 1 year is not a formality, but a real opportunity not to miss what is invisible externally."

Echocardiography

Ultrasound of the heart — echocardiography — is performed when indicated: heart murmurs detected by the pediatrician during examination, suspected congenital heart defect, or a family history of heart disease. Some heart defects in newborns remain asymptomatic for a long time and are only discovered during routine examination.

Echocardiography is completely safe for babies. The procedure is no different from a regular ultrasound and takes about 20–30 minutes. If necessary, it can be done right after neurosonography as part of a single comprehensive diagnostic session.

When additional ultrasounds are needed

A pediatrician may refer a child for an unscheduled ultrasound if the following symptoms are present:

• abdominal pain or frequent regurgitation — to assess abdominal organs;
• swelling or changes in urine tests — to examine the kidneys;
• asymmetry of movements, limited hip abduction — to check the hip joints;
• restlessness, bulging fontanelle, sleep disturbances — for neurosonography;
• heart murmurs detected on examination — for echocardiography.

Ultrasound for children at Kandinsky Clinic

The pediatric department of Kandinsky Clinic in Dubai — one of the largest among Russian-speaking clinics in the city — provides ultrasounds performed by highly qualified radiologists with extensive experience working with infants. All necessary equipment is on site, and results are interpreted by the physician immediately during the appointment.

For those who prefer not to track the schedule themselves, the clinic offers medical care programs from 0 to 1 year and from 1 to 2 years. They include scheduled pediatric examinations, all age-appropriate ultrasounds, vaccination according to the UAE schedule, and laboratory tests. Enroll once, and the physician will remind you what needs to be done and when.

An important advantage: the child is seen by a single team of specialists. The pediatrician who follows the baby knows the medical history and, if needed, will immediately refer for an ultrasound or to a specialist — without unnecessary explanations or loss of time.

To book an ultrasound or learn more about the programs, contact us via WhatsApp at +971555660877 or by phone at +97145631200.

Authors: Yulia Shilova, ultrasound physician, family physician at Kandinsky Clinic, 12 years of experience (DHA License No. 72560158-001); Ekaterina Guseva, radiologist, PhD, Kandinsky Clinic, 15 years of experience (DHA License No. 84762380-001) Medical editor: Olga Polikina, Chief Physician of Kandinsky Clinic, Candidate of Medical Sciences

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not medical advice. For all matters concerning your child's health, consult a physician.