Pediatrics
A pediatrician is a medical professional specializing in the well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Their care begins at birth and extends through a child’s 21st birthday or beyond.
Pediatricians are dedicated to preventing, identifying, and addressing physical, behavioral, and developmental concerns affecting children.
While some pediatricians practice in general medicine, others focus on specialized care tailored to children with specific health conditions.
What role does a pediatrician have and what can they diagnose?
Pediatricians undertake a diverse array of responsibilities, spanning from conducting routine well-baby checkups to managing chronic medical conditions. Their scope of practice includes preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment of infections, injuries, and diseases. Key duties of pediatricians encompass:
- Conducting regular health and wellness checkups, often referred to as well-baby or well-child visits.
- Performing comprehensive physical examinations.
- Monitoring your child’s physical, emotional, and social development.
- Diagnosing and treating various illnesses, injuries, and health conditions.
- Administering vaccinations.
- Prescribing medications when necessary.
- Addressing parental concerns and inquiries with attentiveness.
- Providing health guidance and recommendations to parents.
- Referring families to specialized healthcare professionals when appropriate.