A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in caring for children. Pediatricians treat infants, children, and adolescents up to age 18. They diagnose health problems, manage chronic conditions, and provide physical checkups. The scope of their practice varies somewhat depending on their training, but all pediatricians are trained to handle common childhood illnesses such as colds. Pediatricians also handle immunization needs. Book an appointment with Lenox Medical Clinic.
Understanding Pediatrics Care
Pediatrics is a vast field with subspecialties to include everything from neonatology (children up to 1) to adolescent medicine. Some pediatricians choose to limit their practices to specific conditions such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, family practice, surgery, infectious diseases, neurology, cardiology, oncology(treatment of cancer), or emergency medicine.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a professional association representing more than 60,000 pediatricians in the United States. The AAP publishes guidelines on various aspects of pediatric care, often followed by doctors and insurance companies.
How to Choose a Pediatrician
Most parents begin looking for a pediatrician by asking friends and family members for recommendations. Anyone with children should provide at least one name. Some parents ask their obstetrician (OB-GYN) for suggestions. A new mother friend of mine recommended the doctor who delivered her baby, which was very helpful because it turned out that he accepted my insurance plan.
Some parents choose a pediatrician based on location. Suppose the baby’s regular doctor is located in an area that is not easily accessible or has limited off-hours. In that case, it might be worth finding another pediatrician who practices nearby.
Benefits of Pediatrics Care
Pediatricians can provide a wide range of services including:
- A pediatrician can screen for physical problems that may not appear on a regular exam. It includes doing an electrocardiogram (ECG, or sometimes called an EKG) to check the heart. I’ve had two kids, and every six months my pediatrician would do an ECG to see if my son’s pacemaker was working. After a few minor incidents, we found out that the battery needed to be replaced, and he could go back to normal activities.
- Pediatricians manage chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes. They provide physical checkups to make sure a child is healthy and not showing any warning signs of illness. A pediatrician can also diagnose health problems with straightforward exams.
- Immunization is one of the most important things you can do for your child to protect them from disease. Immunization helps protect your child from conditions such as polio, measles, and chickenpox. It also helps protect other children and adults who may not fight off infection because they are too young or have a health condition.
There are many different types of immunizations, and your child should receive all of the recommended immunizations at the appropriate age. Immunizations are available at pediatricians’ offices, clinics, and health departments. Most are given injections, but some are available as oral drops or nasal sprays.
Choosing a pediatrician is an important decision for parents. Choosing the right doctor can have lasting benefits on your child’s health and well-being, so it’s worth taking time to find someone qualified who has experience with children of all ages.