Who is a pediatrician?
A pediatrician is a certified medical doctor who tends to the specific needs of children, adolescents, infants, teenagers, and young adults. Pediatric patients are defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) as those aged 21 and younger. Pediatricians are equipped with medical devices to perform general annual check-ups and diagnose, treat, and manage various illnesses, such as stomach diseases, respiratory issues, congenital disabilities, hearing problems, and cancers.
Pediatricians undergo intensive training and education for nearly 15 years to become certified. First, they must complete four years of an undergraduate science degree and four years of medical school. They gain knowledge in subjects like anatomy and physiology and complete clinical rotations. They then complete three years of residency, which involves training in specialties such as newborn intensive care, general pediatrics, and developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
After completing residency, pediatricians must also pass the American Board of Pediatrics examination, which recognizes them as Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). Some pediatricians specialize in subspecialties such as neonatal-perinatal medicine, child abuse, pediatric cardiology, surgery, and adolescent medicine. Pediatricians, in total, need to complete 12,000 to 14,000 hours of patient care hours as part of their clinical training to receive a medical license.
In addition to formal education and training, pediatricians must update their knowledge and skills via ongoing continuing education. It may include attending conferences and seminars, reading medical journals, and participating in online learning activities.
Routinely seeing the best pediatricians near you can help your child get optimal pediatric care. These professionals are skilled with clinical expertise and adaptability and have excellent communication abilities.
What conditions do pediatricians treat?
Pediatricians treat the following conditions found frequently in children and teens:
- Abdominal and digestive disorders: Stomach aches in children and adolescents are quite common. However, symptoms such as nausea, high fever, recurrent vomiting, persistent cough, diarrhea, and constant abdominal pain can be underlying causes of severe digestive disorders. These disorders include Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (a chronic illness that affects the small intestine), etc. Complications of Crohn's disease could involve arthritis, kidney stones, or liver disease. To accurately diagnose digestive disorders, a pediatrician may conduct tests such as endoscopy (inserting a camera attached to a tube inside the rectum), blood tests, or Barium X-rays to examine the upper or lower intestine. Post diagnosis, treatment may include anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, antidiarrheals, and changes in diet.
- Congenital abnormalities and genetic disorders: As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 33 children born in the U.S. suffers from congenital disorders of the heart, stomach, face, muscles, and chromosomes (genes). Down Syndrome occurs once every 707 births in the U.SU.S. Treatment and management of congenital and genetic diseases may include surgery, physical, occupational, speech therapy, and specialized education services.
- ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) and oral health issues: ENT issues such as hearing loss can be caused by infection, problems at birth, or injury. For mild ear issues, a pediatrician may prescribe certain antibiotics or insert ear tubes to get rid of any condition in the ear. However, your child may require cochlear implants (electronic devices inserted into the inner ear) or hearing aids for permanent hearing loss issues.
- Neurological or developmental disorders: Conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy are characterized by symptoms such as not being responsive, being highly sensitive to sounds and smells, having seizures, etc. Your child's pediatrician may conduct psychological tests, C.T. scans, MRIs, or electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose epilepsy.
When to visit a pediatrician and what to expect
If your child is having the following symptoms, you should consult a pediatrician as soon as possible:
- Excessive vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Rashes
- Irritability or difficulty in sleeping
- Seizures
- Unresponsiveness
- Constant abdominal pain
Before approaching a pediatrician, consider whether they accept patients with your insurance plan, answer calls after hours in case of emergencies, and conduct routine check-ups and clinic timings.
You can expect your pediatrician to ask about your child's medical history at your first appointment. Ensure you go prepared with a list of symptoms your child has been experiencing, along with any previous health conditions, vaccinations, test results, and medication that the doctor may want to know. You can also list out questions to ask your pediatrician. For example:
- What tests will be conducted to determine my child's condition?
- Does my child require further care for their condition? If yes, will the pediatrician be coordinating with other specialists?
- How often should my child visit for routine health check-ups?
- Do you make appointments on short notice or in case of emergencies?
- How can I, as a parent, manage my child's health condition at home?
- How are sudden or acute illnesses handled? Will surgery be required?
How do you prepare for a pediatric session?
Preparing for a pediatric session is essential to ensure that parents or guardians can communicate their child's medical concerns effectively to the pediatrician. Apart from compiling their medical history, as stated above, you can undertake other steps to ensure you make the most out of your child's pediatric sessions. It is recommended that you do the following:
- Write down your concerns: It can be easy to forget important details during the session, so write down your concerns and questions beforehand. It will help you stay organized and cover everything you need to.
- Be mindful of certain specific information: If your child is a newborn, the pediatrician will most likely enquire about your child's eating and sleeping routine, along with details about how many diapers they use up in a day, etc., during the first appointment. Keeping track of all these developments can help answer the questions raised by our baby's care team.
- Bring a list of medications: List all your child's medicines, including their dosages and frequency. This will help the pediatrician avoid prescribing medications that may negatively affect what your child is already taking.
- Carry all necessary paperwork: If your child needs any forms, such as school health forms or sports physicals, bring them to the session so the pediatrician can fill them out.
- Bring your child's comfort object or favorite toy: Giving them their favorite toy or comfort object might make them feel more at ease during a stressful pediatric treatment.
- Dress your child accordingly: The pediatrician may want to fully undress your baby to check their weight, height, and other measurements. Thus, dressing your child in comfortable and functional clothing, like zip-up pajamas, may be helpful.
- Carry a bag full of essential items: You should consider carrying a bag full of diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, extra pacifiers, bottles, formula, a blanket, etc. This can enable a comfortable experience for your child.
How do you ensure a healthy lifestyle for your kids?
Ensuring a healthy lifestyle for kids involves various aspects, including:
- Balanced nutrition: Provide a well-rounded diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and limited processed foods or sugary drinks. Also, pay attention to portion sizes and eat together as a family. Consider eating at the table rather than in front of the television.
- Limit screen time: Regarding screen time, 2 hours per day is enough for the children. Hence, regulating time for television, computers, tablets, and phones and encouraging more active or creative activities is essential.
- Physical activity: Promote regular exercise or playtime suitable for your child's age. You can go to the pool or bike together. Group activities, like team sports or martial arts, boost children's growth and self-esteem.
- Hygiene and safety: Teach your children proper hygiene practices, like handwashing, taking care of their oral health, etc.
- Sufficient sleep: Establish consistent bedtime routines to ensure they get the necessary amount of sleep based on age.
- Emotional well-being: Foster open communication, support, and understanding to help them manage emotions and stress.
- Regular health check-ups: Schedule routine visits with a pediatrician for vaccination and check-ups to address any health concerns.
- Tobacco, alcohol, and drug awareness: Educate children about the risks linked with alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. Have open, age-appropriate conversations about the dangers and consequences of substance abuse and educate them to avoid these practices.
- Sexual health education: Offer age-appropriate information about sexual health, emphasizing the importance of respect, consent, safe practices, and responsible decision-making.
- Setting a positive example: Be a role model by practicing healthy habits yourself, as children often learn by observing adults.
Find the best pediatricians near you in Austin
Finding the right pediatrician can be quite a daunting task. Zocdoc provides a safe and straightforward way for users to select a trusted healthcare professional in their area. If you live in Austin, Texas, and wish to book a consultation for your child, visit the Zocdoc website and enter your location, child's condition, insurance carrier plan, and the date you wish to schedule an appointment. Depending on their availability, you'll receive a list of highly-rated pediatricians for video consultations or in-person visits.
Zocdoc helps patients schedule appointments easily but also helps them make informed decisions by comparing pediatrician profiles based on their specialty, medical training, certifications, affiliations, accepted insurance, and verified patient reviews. Depending on the doctor's availability, you can book appointments 24 hours in advance or on the same day in the morning or evening.
Thanks to Zocdoc, locating the best pediatricians near you is now easier! All bookings made with Zocdoc are simple, secure, and 100% free!
Pediatrics-associated conditions in Texas
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Texas has 3,130 pediatricians, the third-highest employment of pediatricians in the U.S. as of May 2021. The Community Health Assessment (CHA) conducted in Travis County/Austin in December 2017 reported an increase in the cases of child abuse and neglect cases until 2015 and has remained consistent ever since.
Data collated by the Texas Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance (BDES) and reported in the Texas Birth Defects Registry formed under the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) from 1999 to 2017 recorded nearly 341,003 cases of infants and fetuses with congenital disabilities. It includes 9,947 cases of Down Syndrome, 4,326 cases of oral clefts, over 50,000 cases of cardiac and circulatory genetic disorders, and nearly 14,000 cases of central nervous system defects.
Sources
US Food & Drug Administration
Cleveland Clinic
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
American Academy of Pediatrics[1]
American Academy of Pediatrics[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Texas Department of State Health Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Schneck
familydoctor.org
