What do pediatricians do? What role does he or she play in the health of your child’s? Does your child need one? This article will provide an overview of the work of a pediatrician.
The Pediatrician: A Definition
Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in the medical field of children’s health. They may address the health and wellbeing of all children between birth, into adolescence and up to age 21. However, they may also restrict themselves in their practice to a certain age group. As a result, a pediatrician may focus on:
- Infants
- Young children
- Older children
- Adolescents
- Young adults
They may be an infant care physician or a general pediatrician.
The Role of Pediatricians
A pediatrician plays a role in making sure all his or her patients receive the care they require to lead healthy normal lives. As a specialist, this doctor is there to provide your child with a variety of services. These are both preventive and involve actively diagnosing and treating any medical problem. A pediatrician provides Physical, mental and emotional care. He or she:
- Performs diagnostic tests administer treatments
- Prescribes medications and therapies
- Administers vaccinations
- Treats both minor and major problems, dealing with everything from minor scratches to chronic health problems
- Addresses psychological problems
- Handles developmental concerns
Pediatricians are more than a doctor who tends wounds. They play a major role in helping guide children and parents through their lives. They are there to provide children and their parents or guardians with important information intended to keep them healthy in a holistic sense. They work with them on issues of normal concerns. This includes:
- Diet and nutrition
- Hygiene
- Disease prevention
Because of the broad range of physical, medical and psychological issues a pediatrician covers, he or she must also work closely with other medical specialists. In doing so, pediatricians are always working hard to make sure the needs of their patients are always met.
