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Feb 18, 2024 · A pediatrician is a healthcare provider who specializes in the care of children and adolescents, providing vaccines for the smallest of babies or caring for a college student diagnosed with an eating disorder. You also may encounter nurse practitioners who specialize in pediatric care.
- 2 min
- Overview
- What is a pediatrician?
- Types
- What do they do?
- When to see a pediatrician
- Education and qualifications
- Who treats teenagers?
- Summary
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A pediatric doctor, or pediatrician, is a medical doctor that specializes in conditions that affect babies, infants, adolescents, and young adults.
Children experience rapid physical, emotional, and behavioral changes as they grow up. Children and teenagers have unique medical needs that might fall outside the expertise of doctors who primarily treat adults.
A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in treating infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatric care can begin before conception and continue through pregnancy.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, setting an upper age limit for pediatric care is not straightforward. The Academy discourage people from setting age limits on pediatric care, as this will depend on an individual’s physical and mental needs.
Children undergo rapid physical and mental changes as they grow. Pediatricians understand this fact and assess a child’s health status based on the normal ranges for their age.
Pediatricians can help diagnose medical conditions in children. Depending on the condition, parents or caregivers may take their children to a primary care pediatrician or a pediatric specialist.
Many pediatricians work as primary care physicians. This type of pediatrician performs regular health and wellness checkups. They also diagnose and treat a wide range of general health conditions, give vaccinations, and offer appropriate health advice to young people and their parents or caregivers.
Other pediatricians specialize in treating specific medical conditions or age ranges. Examples of pediatric subspecialties include the following:
Adolescent medicine specialists focus on care during adolescence, around 11 to 21 years old.
Critical care pediatricians facilitate teams of healthcare professionals who treat children in unstable or critical health situations. These pediatricians usually work in hospital-based intensive care units.
Developmental behavioral pediatricians evaluate the behavioral development of children and teens. Specialists in this field diagnose and treat developmental, learning, and behavioral problems in young people.
Child abuse pediatricians possess specialized training, experience, and skills necessary for evaluating if a child may have experienced abuse or neglect.
Pediatricians perform a diverse range of health-related services that range from health and wellness screenings to management of complex medical conditions.
Pediatricians generally perform the following procedures:
•physical exams
•giving vaccinations
•treating injuries, including fractures and dislocations
•evaluating a child’s physical, emotional, and social development
Parents and caregivers can take their child to a pediatrician for periodic well-child visits. Well-child visits are an opportunity for parents and caregivers to ask any questions they may have regarding the health of their child. Pediatricians may also give vaccinations at these visits, if appropriate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 1 in 6 children between the ages of 3–17 years have at least one issue with development or behavior. Early identification and treatment can lead to better long-term outcomes for young children.
During a well-care visit, a pediatrician evaluates a child’s physical and emotional development. They may also ask questions about a child’s eating, sleeping, and social habits. Pediatricians can inform parents and educators if their child has any signs that suggest a physical or behavioral problem.
March of Dimes recommend that parents or caregivers take their baby to a pediatrician for a well-child visit about seven times during their first year. Children between the ages of 1 and 2 years should see a pediatrician once every 3 to 6 months.
Parents or caregivers that have ongoing concerns about their child’s health, should call or make an appointment with their child’s pediatrician.
People should visit the emergency room if a child has a fever of 104°F (40°C) or over, or if a fever is accompanied by seizures, confusion, constant crying, or trouble breathing. Call the emergency services if a baby of younger than 2 months has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C).
Pediatricians must have extensive training and education and be licensed before they start treating children.
According to the American Board of Pediatrics, pediatricians must complete a 3-year residency program in pediatrics after they finish medical school.
Some pediatricians start their general care practice after finishing the residency, while others enter fellowship programs where they receive additional training in pediatric subspecialties.
Pediatricians must receive a state license before they can begin their practice. The exact requirements for licensure vary depending on the state.
The American Academy of Pediatrics define adolescents as individuals aged 11–21 years. Pediatricians can continue seeing young people throughout adolescence. Parents or their children may feel more comfortable transitioning to a pediatrician who specializes in treating teenagers.
Pediatric care generally covers people until they turn 21. However, this age limit is not mandatory, and some insurance companies terminate pediatric care after a person turns 18, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A pediatrician is a medical doctor who treats babies, children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatricians can work as primary care physicians or specialize in treating children in certain age ranges or children with specific health conditions.
Parents and caregivers can expect frequent pediatrician visits for infants and young children. Older children and adolescents can benefit from annual well-child visits.
A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in treating infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Learn about the types of pediatricians, such as primary care and subspecialty, the services they provide, when to visit, and the education and qualifications required to become one.
Aug 27, 2021 · A pediatrician is a doctor who focuses on the health of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Pediatric care starts at birth and lasts through a child’s 21st birthday or longer. Pediatricians prevent, detect and manage physical, behavioral and developmental issues that affect children. Some pediatricians work in general practice.
- Is the office location convenient? As you narrow down your choices for a pediatrician, consider the location of the doctor’s office. Babies see their pediatrician a number of times during the first year of life — typically, every 2 to 3 months.
- Is the pediatrician recommended by your OB-GYN? The good news is that you don’t have to choose a pediatrician alone. Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll likely establish a friendly, trusting relationship with your OB-GYN.
- Will the doctor do the first checkup at the hospital? As you speak with different pediatricians, ask whether they’ll complete your baby’s first checkup at the hospital.
- Is the doctor recommended by friends and family? You should also get pediatrician recommendations from family and close friends. If they have a great relationship with their child’s pediatrician, you may have a similar experience.
- Neonatology. Neonatology (neonatal studies) focuses on newborn infants, particularly ill or premature newborns. If a child has a birth defect or is born prematurely, a neonatologist will assist with delivery and the care of the infant.
- Pediatric Allergy & Immunology. Pediatric allergy specialists and immunologists concentrate on factors related to your child’s immune system. They diagnose, treat and monitor children with a wide array of immune issues including allergies to food, chemicals, medicines and plants, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), allergy based dermatitis, primary immune deficiencies, acquired immune disorders, and genetic defects that alter or impair immune response.
- Pediatric Cardiology. Pediatric cardiologists specialize in treating children who are born with or who develop heart or vascular system deficiencies, defects or abnormalities.
- Pediatric Developmental-Behavioral Issues. Developmental-behavioral pediatricians have been trained to determine if a child has any learning, developmental, or behavioral problems.
People also ask
What are the different types of pediatricians?
What does a pediatrician do?
What type of pediatrician do parents see?
How do I choose a pediatrician?
Sep 4, 2023 · The type of pediatrician every parent sees is called a general pediatrician, and they provide quite a bit of information and do a great deal of monitoring for both parents and kids, according to ...
Jul 9, 2023 · 3 min read. A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in providing care for children from birth through childhood. Pediatrics covers a wide array of health services, from preventative ...
