Who is a pediatrician?
Pediatricians are specialists who care for individuals from birth through adulthood — up to 21 years of age. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics disapproves of setting an upper limit for pediatric care as people's physical and mental health needs vary. For instance, a child with special needs may reach their developmental milestones late, thus requiring care for a longer duration. Hence, the doctor and parents must decide to continue providing/receiving treatment, considering the patient's healthcare needs.
Pediatricians overlook children's overall growth and development during well-child visits at regular intervals. These routine check-ups cover the physical, emotional, behavioral, and mental health aspects. They can also diagnose, treat, and prevent childhood illnesses, injuries, and health conditions. They develop lasting relationships with their young patients and their families and provide continuity of care throughout their growing years.
What are the educational qualifications of a pediatrician?
Pediatricians obtain a 4-year undergraduate degree in subjects adjacent to the medical field, such as biology or chemistry. They then train in medical school for another four years. After getting a medical degree, those who want to become pediatricians — opt for a three-year pediatric residency program. After residency, they can acquire a state license to start their general pediatric practice.
However, some receive additional training via fellowships ranging from 2 to 6 years. They can train in pediatric subspecialties such as adolescent medicine, child abuse, cardiology, critical care medicine, endocrinology, hematology-oncology, and infectious disease. Pediatricians may also take exams to get certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
What are the different types of pediatricians?
Based on their training, pediatricians can be of the following types:
- Critical care pediatricians: They treat children with critical or unstable medical conditions and usually work in hospital intensive care units (ICU).
- Adolescent medicine specialist: Offer focused healthcare for children, teens, and adults aged between 11 and 21.
- Developmental behavior specialist: Assess, diagnose, and treat learning, developmental, and behavioral disorders in children and teenagers.
- Neonatal-perinatal pediatrician: Provides care to infants before, during, and after birth and treats critically ill or premature newborns.
- Child abuse pediatricians: They undergo training to identify any form of abuse or neglect experienced by a child.
- Pediatric cardiologist: Diagnose different heart-related medical conditions in children and closely work with pediatric heart surgeons to devise treatment plans.
- Pediatric oncologist: Diagnose and treat various types of cancer in children.
- Pediatric pulmonologist: Diagnose and treat respiratory diseases in children and help them manage the symptoms of chronic conditions.
- Pediatric endocrinologist: Specialize in diseases - like diabetes, early or delayed puberty, and pituitary gland disorders - related to the endocrine system and the various hormones it produces.
- Pediatric gastroenterologist: Help ensure proper digestive health among children
- Pediatric nephrologist: Diagnose and treat medical conditions, such as kidney diseases and urinary tract infections, affecting the urinary system.
- Pediatric neurologist: Diagnose, treat, and manage neurological disorders in children, such as tremors, seizures, memory loss, and poor balance and coordination.
- Pediatric rheumatologist: Treat children with musculoskeletal, autoimmune, and autoinflammatory disorders like chronic pain, vasculitis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
What are the everyday duties of a pediatrician?
A pediatrician's roles and responsibilities keep evolving at different developmental stages of the child. The number of visits varies according to the child's age and needs. Typically, most consultations happen during the first two years when the pediatrician sees children monthly or quarterly. After that, annual visits become a regular part of their healthcare.
The various tasks of a pediatrician include:
- Conducting routine check-ups and physical examinations
- Ensuring proper physical, mental, behavioral, and social development
- Tracking and assessing academic progress, skills, physical activities, and habits
- Diagnosing, treating, and preventing various illnesses, injuries, or health conditions
- Administering vaccinations
- Prescribing medications, therapies, and other treatments
- Educating patients about health choices, puberty changes, sexual health, and more
- Answering parents' concerns and queries
- Referring families to other specialists when required
What are some common childhood illnesses and their symptoms?
It is crucial to be aware of the symptoms and seek help at the right time to avoid unnecessary complications. A few common childhood illnesses are:
- Common cold: It is a viral infection of the throat and nose with symptoms like a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and high fever. A sore throat can also accompany a cold or flu.
- Bronchitis: It is a viral respiratory infection with symptoms like coughing up mucus and shortness of breath. Another common condition that also makes breathing difficult is sinus. Its other accompanying symptoms include headache, facial pain, and runny nose. Children commonly experience ear infections that cause ear pain, fever, irritability, and trouble sleeping.
- Skin infections and urinary tract infections (UTI): UTIs can cause pain or a burning sensation while urinating, accompanied by frequent urination, bedwetting, and abdominal pain. People with UTIs are also prone to conjunctivitis, an eye infection that leads to redness, itching, tearing, and discharge from the eyes.
- Stomach conditions: Stomach flu, an intestinal disorder causing diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever, is prevalent among children. Constipation, a digestive condition that makes it difficult to pass stools, is also common.
You should take your kid to a child doctor if they experience symptoms of any of the above diseases.
When should you visit a pediatrician near you?
Ideally, you should see a pediatrician whenever your child is unwell. You should also schedule timely appointments with them for your child's vaccinations and regular health check-ups.
Apart from this, here are some emergencies when you must visit a pediatrician:
- Fever: If your child is under two months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, it is an emergency that requires a visit straight to the ER. In the case of older children, if a child has a 101-degree fever but is irritable, doesn't act like themselves, doesn't stop crying, or won't eat, you should see a pediatrician near you. Viral fevers usually last for around three days. If a fever lasts longer, then you must consult a healthcare professional.
- Diarrhea and vomiting: Usually, these symptoms signify a viral infection. However, if your child continues to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea, it can cause dehydration, which is a cause of concern. In such cases, you should visit a pediatrician immediately.
- Respiratory infections: Typically, children suffer from a cold or other upper respiratory infections around eight times a year. These are usually viral and last for around ten days. Respiratory infections tend to result in a fever. You should take your child to a doctor if the fever lasts over three days.
- Rash: Multiple factors can cause rashes, which come in many forms. If your child is not bothered by the rash, then there is no reason to worry. However, you should visit a doctor if the rash does not vanish in a few days or if your child has a fever with rashes. Other rashes you should watch out for are -- a blistery or bubbly rash, a rash that weeps or oozes, swollen bumps on the skin, swelling of the face, and a rash that resembles a bull's eye.
What to expect at your newborn's first doctor visit
Your newborn's first visit to the pediatrician near you is a vital milestone that lays the groundwork for their health and development. This comprehensive check-up involves assessing your baby's growth, physical health, and overall well-being while addressing your parenting concerns. Here's what you can expect during this necessary appointment:
Comprehensive evaluation of your newborn: Before the appointment, the clinic may request that you fill out forms regarding your baby's health history, developmental progress, and experience with parenting adjustments.
At the visit, a nurse collects these forms and addresses any specific concerns you might have. They measure your baby's length, head circumference, and weight, which often requires undressing your baby for precise readings. These measurements are then charted and reviewed to track your baby's growth.
Key assessments by the pediatrician: The pediatrician will thoroughly examine your baby from head to toe to ensure their development is on track. This includes:
- Head check: The pediatrician evaluates the shape of your baby's head and the softness of the fontanelles (soft spots) to confirm normal skull development and brain growth.
- Hip check: By gently rotating your baby's legs and hips, they screen for hip dysplasia, which affects the hip joint.
- Reflex check: Reflexes such as grasping and the Moro reflex (startle response) are tested to evaluate neurological development.
- Umbilical cord care: The pediatrician inspects the umbilical area and advises caring for the belly button until the cord detaches naturally.
Discussion on feeding, sleep, and digestion: The pediatrician discusses your baby's feeding and sleep routines and assesses their digestion by inquiring about diaper changes. These conversations clearly show your newborn's nutritional and developmental needs.
Opportunity for parental questions and guidance: This visit allows you to raise questions or concerns about your baby's health, feeding habits, or care routines. Additionally, the clinic's nurse line can offer continuous support and guidance. Confirm the contact details and availability of this service for future queries.
Foundation for future health visits: This first visit establishes a baseline for your baby's health and sets the stage for ongoing pediatric care and wellness check-ups, ensuring your child's optimal growth and development.
Where can you find the best child doctor near you in Alpharetta, GA?
Finding a pediatrician while pregnant is a good idea, as it will allow you to meet and know the expert who will care for your child for at least the first 21 years. Routine visits and physicals with the pediatrician are crucial to ensure your child grows well. They can also help if your child sustains an injury, illness, or disease.
So, if you are looking for a good pediatrician for your child, you have landed on the right platform. At Zocdoc, you can find experts based on location, availability, and insurance. So, if you want to consult a pediatrician in Alpharetta, Georgia, who accepts your child's insurance, go to the website, locate the search box, and type these details. If you don't see your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, try uploading an image of your card (this feature is only available for medical insurance cards, not vision or dental). Scanning the picture, we'll display your likely plan. If you face any trouble uploading the image, contact our service team. Visit Zocdoc's patient help center for added assistance.
You may need more time to go through every expert profile. Hence, we have introduced filters. You can add your preferences regarding the consultation time, visit reasons, travel distance, and the expert's gender and languages they speak. If your child is sick and you prefer not to travel, look for pediatricians in the video visits tab to book an online consultation.
Zocdoc also lets you learn about every expert in detail before booking an appointment. For instance, you can read about their educational background, certifications, experience, expertise, professional memberships, and awards, among other information. Reading patient reviews is a good idea as it provides personal insights. For any more queries, you can read the FAQs.
Once you choose a pediatrician near you, you can book an in-person or video appointment through Zocdoc. All bookings made on Zocdoc are easy, secure, and 100% free!
Pediatric health statistics in Georgia
According to America's Health Rankings, Georgia had about 88.2 pediatricians per 100,000 children ages 0-21 in 2021. This number was relatively low compared to the other US states, ranking the state 31 that year. Between 2020 and 2021, approximately 76.8% of children ages 0-17 received one or more preventive visits in 12 months. The data for child visits among children aged 0-2 and 3-17 was about 87.9% and 74.8%, respectively.
Based on a report on infant mortality rates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, there were about 6.28 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in Georgia. It amounted to nearly 769 infant deaths that year, making the state among the top 20 states with the highest infant mortality rate in the US. A United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) report attributed high infant mortality in the state to the significant prevalence of anemia and micronutrient deficiencies, including folic acid deficiency among pregnant women and children.
A report published in 2019 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentions that one in six children aged between 3 and 17 have at least one developmental disorder, and 6.7% of all children in the US have two or more developmental disorders. Another America's Health Rankings report found that in 2020-2021, about 3.7% of children ages 3-17 had ADD or ADHD, of which about 7% were taking medication, and 4.5% received behavioral treatment. During the same time, around 9.6% of children between 0-17 years had asthma. A different report looked at the prevalence of mental health disorders in children between 2020-21—around 3.1% of Georgian children 3-17 years were depressed, while about 7% suffered from anxiety.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic[1]
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