Growth And Development, Ages 15 To 18 Years: When To Call A Doctor

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When to Call a Doctor

Call a doctor if your teen has health problems or issues that may need treatment, including:

• A significant delay in physical or sexual development—for example, if sexual development has not begun by age 15.
• Becoming sexually active. Teens who are sexually active need to be educated about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Also, girls will usually have a Pap test.
• Being overweight. A doctor can help guide weight loss and proper nutrition.
• Severe acne that may be helped by medicine. For more information, see the topic Acne Vulgaris.
• Problems with attention or learning.

Call a doctor or a mental health professional if your teen develops behavioral problems or signs of mental health problems. These may include:

• Expressing a lack of self-worth or talking about suicide.
• Acting physically aggressive.
• Regularly experiencing severe mood swings, such as being happy and excited one minute and sad and depressed the next.
• A significant change in appetite or weight. These may signal an eating disorder.
• Dropping out of school or failing classes.
• Having serious relationship problems with friends and family that affect home or school life.
• Showing a lack of interest in normal activities and withdrawing from other people.
• Seeking and having sex with multiple partners.

For more information, see the topics Depression in Children and Teens, Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Last updated:	April 22, 2008
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC