The value of screening in paediatrics.

Population screening is the carrying out of some test or procedure on 
every individual within a population defined by such limits as geography, 
administration, race, sex or age. At risk screening is the carrying 
out of such a test or procedure on a person or 
persons for whom there already exists some medical reason to suppose 
that the findings may be positive. This review of conditions for 
which population screening may be considered is not exhaustive, but it 
serves to show the central dilemma in this field, which is 
that, apart from congenital dislocation of the hip, phenylketonuria and possibly 
homocystinuria, none seems to show quite strong enough a case to 
be considered worthwhile screening for on its own. 