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1. Who is a Paediatrician?
A paediatrician or a child specialist is a doctor who manages the health of your child. A paediatrician is trained to manage the physical, behavioural, and mental health of a child. A child specialist is trained to treat childhood illnesses, from minor health issues to serious health disorders. A child can be treated by a paediatrician right from birth.
2. What is the age range of children which a Paediatrician can treat?
Paediatricians can treat a child right from birth. From birth till 2 years, there may be many visits to the paediatrician. From age 2 to 5 years, there will be once a year “well-child” visits. After the age of 5 years, paediatric visits will be done annually. Up to the age of 18 years, you can visit a paediatrician.
3. Can a Paediatrician perform surgery?
Paediatricians are concerned with the physical and mental well being of children. Paediatric surgeons specialize in surgeries. A paediatrician can also perform surgeries with the necessary training. Paediatricians may only evaluate and treat children through non-invasive procedures. Paediatric surgeons perform minor surgeries like removal of foreign bodies to major surgeries like cardiac surgery.
4. What does a paediatrician do?
A paediatrician is trained to perform procedures like: vaccine administration, treat dislocated shoulders or elbows, treat minor injuries, remove foreign bodies, split brown bones, perform circumcision. Apart from these specific procedures paediatricians also ensure well-being of the child through routine examinations. They also handle conditions that affect new born children.
5. How is a Paediatrician different from a general physician?
Paediatricians and physicians are both doctors, but treat patients belonging to different age groups. Paediatricians specialize in treating patients aged 18 years and younger, while general physician treats patients above the age of 18 years. Paediatricians focus on providing medical care to infants, children and teenagers. Physicians may specialize in certain field of medicine.
Medical doctors who are specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases and dysfunctions in infants, children, and adolescents are called Pediatricians. The speciality of medical science that deals with the physical, social, and mental health of children from birth to young adulthood is called Pediatrics. It includes a variety of health services, from the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases to preventive health care.
A 5-year medical degree [MBBS] that is recognized by the General Medical Council and a 2-year foundation course of general training are the basic requirements for an individual to be a doctor. However, following are the specialties or extra qualifications required to be a Pediatrician:
Some of the subspecialties of Pediatrics are:
Some of the common conditions that Pediatricians treat are:
No, Pediatricians do not perform surgery. They are typically consulted in their offices or clinics and perform diagnostic examinations as well as lab tests, x-rays, or other tests to evaluate health issues. Pediatric surgeons are professionals who operate on children. They work by collaborating and consulting with Pediatricians and physicians before and post-surgery.
You can consult a Pediatrician either online or offline. However, depending on the availability of the doctor and the convenience of the patient, pre-booking may be required for consultation.
It is recommended to consult a Pediatrician once every year to get an update on the health of the child. In case the child has an existing disease or condition, it is advised to have regular follow-ups with the Pediatrician.