Who is a pediatrician?
A pediatrician is a licensed medical doctor who specializes in the care of newborns, children, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 21. Pediatricians focus on the emotional, social, and physical health of children. The American Academy of Pediatrics defines pediatric care as a broad spectrum of health services. It encompasses preventive healthcare, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic and acute diseases in children.
A pediatrician's treatments depend on the patient's age and condition. Interaction with parents and guardians is also a part of the management process, which helps practitioners assess a patient's health status; pediatricians also provide anticipatory guidance and work to control infectious, chronic, and acute diseases, reduce child and infant morbidity, and foster healthy lifestyles.
The education and training of a pediatrician
Pediatricians receive extensive education and training. According to the American Board of Pediatrics, they must complete a four-year undergraduate degree. They can opt for pre-medical courses such as biology and chemistry during their undergraduate studies.
Following that, aspiring pediatricians must complete four years of medical school. During medical school, they study anatomy and physiology. They also participate in clinical rotations to learn more about various areas of medicine. These specialties include pediatrics, emergency medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and radiology. Many doctors decide on their specialization during clinical rotations.
Schools such as NEOMED combine undergraduate and medical school into a six-year program instead of an eight-year one. If a doctor opts to specialize in pediatrics, they enroll themselves in a three-year pediatric residency program. The residency includes additional training in pediatric specialties, including newborn care, neonatal intensive care, general pediatrics, and developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
Pediatricians must gain the skills, knowledge, and experience required to treat a wide range of conditions in children during their residency. Some pediatricians pursue general pediatric practice after completing their residency. Others enter fellowship programs to receive additional training in pediatric subspecialties. Neonatology, pediatric cardiology, adolescent medicine, child abuse, and pediatric surgery are among the subspecialties. These programs require two to six years of additional training. Also, as a part of their training, pediatricians must complete between 12,000 and 14,000 hours of patient care.
What do pediatricians do?
Pediatricians provide various health-related services, from health and wellness screenings to complex medical condition management. Pediatricians typically carry out the following procedures:
- Physical exams
- Giving vaccinations
- Treating injuries, including dislocations and fractures
- Providing general health advice
- Diagnosing and treating various medical conditions
- Evaluating a child's physical, social, and emotional development
- Prescribing medications, such as antibiotics and pain relievers
- Connecting families with other pediatric specialists, if needed
Pediatric specialists receive additional education and training in various treatments and diagnostic procedures. For example, a pediatric heart specialist (cardiologist) has advanced knowledge in treating heart conditions in children.
In cases where pediatricians do not have the qualifications or experience to treat complex illnesses, they can refer families to pediatric specialists who can provide additional testing and treatment.
What can pediatricians specialize in?
The field of pediatrics is extensive and diverse. We frequently hear about general pediatricians who look after your child's primary health requirements. They are doctors who look after a child's health from birth to young adulthood. However, they may refer your child to a specialist if they have a particular condition. Some pediatric specializations are listed below:
Child abuse pediatrician: A child abuse pediatrician specializes in diagnosing and treating child victims of abuse and neglect. They interact with community agencies on child abuse prevention and participate in teams investigating and treating child abuse cases.
Developmental and behavioral pediatrician: Developmental and behavioral pediatricians evaluate, treat, and manage infants, children, and young adults at risk for developmental and behavioral concerns and conditions. They look into the causes and cures for various illnesses and work to increase awareness of children's social, educational, and cultural impacts.
Pediatric critical care specialist: These experts specialize in advanced life support for children from birth through adolescence. Their expertise includes critical care management of life-threatening organ system failure in medical and surgical patients and maintaining essential physiological functions.
Pediatric endocrinologists: These specialists provide expert care for diseases caused by abnormalities in the endocrine glands.
Pediatric cardiologists: They treat patients with cardiovascular problems. They know how to choose, perform, and evaluate structural and functional assessments of the blood and heart arteries and the clinical evaluation of cardiovascular diseases.
Pediatric gastroenterologists diagnose and treat digestive system problems in infants, children, and young adults. They address diseases such as ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhea, jaundice, and cancer.
Pediatric nephrologists: These specialists evaluate and treat fluid abnormalities and renal diseases.
Pediatric pulmonologists: These experts specialize in preventing and treating all respiratory diseases in infants, children, and young adults. They are knowledgeable about assessing respiratory functions, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, and the growth and development of lungs.
Pediatric rheumatologists: These experts specialize in treating muscles, joints, tendons, and bones. They diagnose and treat back pain, arthritis, collagen diseases, and injuries.
Pediatric sports medicine specialists: These specialists focus on enhancing health and fitness. They also help to prevent injury and illness.
Difference between a pediatrician and family doctor
Pediatricians have in-depth knowledge of children's growth development and behavior from infancy to adolescence. On the other hand, family doctors specialize in family medicine and see a broad category of patients. In particular, they don't see patients based on specific age groups but mainly deal with adult groups.
Pediatricians know about a child's unique needs. They can detect underlying conditions in children early and provide appropriate care and treatment. In contrast, a family doctor may have to refer the child to a pediatrician for optimum care and treatment.
When should you take your child to see a pediatrician?
The top reasons to take your child to the a pediatrician include the following:
Children need a variety of vaccines right after birth until they reach 18 years of age. Prominent among them are polio vaccine, chicken pox vaccine, hepatitis A & B, measles vaccine, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine. You can get all these vaccinations done at the pediatrician.
Some children may be underweight or weak at birth and miss developmental milestones per their age. Pediatricians can check children's developmental delays, nutrition issues, or growth disorders and prescribe appropriate care and treatment. They can monitor a child's progress to ensure the child achieves every key development milestone.
Fever is the most common condition among all growing children. Any fever with a body temperature of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is a cause of concern. Pediatricians help with quick diagnosis and treatment most suitable for the child's age.
Children are more susceptible to infections and allergies than adults. In most cases, diseases spread more rapidly in children and may even cause severe symptoms. Visiting the best pediatrician near you can help you understand and treat the condition. They can even teach the best practices to prevent the recurrence of such complications.
Some children may have behavior issues, like bed-wetting, discipline issues, or learning difficulties. Pediatricians can comfort the child, understand their behavior issues, and offer proper guidance and care.
How do you choose the best pediatrician near you in Dallas, TX?
Experience is crucial when dealing with children's physical, behavioral, and emotional development issues. You will feel more at ease with a pediatrician with the right expertise and training.
Zocdoc's aim has always been to improve the healthcare experiences for patients, and pediatric care is no exception. Our portal can assist you in selecting the right practitioner for your child's medical needs. On Zocdoc, you can search for pediatricians in your city and browse through their profiles, which contain information about their education, location, experience, treatments offered, professional memberships, and insurance accepted. Moreover, verified patient reviews can help you select the best pediatricians near you for your child's needs. All the bookings with Zocdoc are secure, easy, and free!
Pediatric care and pediatricians in Dallas
Mental health problems affect teens and children. Sixty-five children in Dallas committed suicide between 2011 and 2017. Adolescent suicides and child mortality rose, with a 27% increase in teenage suicides in Dallas in 2016. According to a report by the March of Dimes Foundation, in 2019, 232 infants died before their first birthday in Dallas, resulting in a mortality rate of about 6.2 per 1,000 live births. The neonatal phase accounted for 66.4% of all baby deaths, whereas the postnatal period accounted for 33.2%.
According to the Beyond ABC: Assessing the Well-Being of Children in North Texas 2021 report, the infant mortality rate in Dallas was 6.3 per 1,000 live births. The infant mortality rate has increased since 2018. Dallas's estimated number of children under 18 with developmental disabilities has risen significantly from 103,724 in 2018 to 102,296 in 2019.
In 2020, there were 7145 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect. In addition, the death rate increased from 9.5 to 9.8%. Dallas also reported 429 child mortality cases under the age of 19. Twenty-three confirmed adolescent deaths by suicide and other self-inflicted injuries among children 19 and younger. In 2019, 351 children went to the hospital due to primary or secondary physical harm or a complication of a bodily injury.
According to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC), 73% of abused children do not tell anyone, and 92% of children know their abuser. DCAC received over 28,000 reports of child abuse in Dallas in 2021, involving over 8,000 children
Sources
Cleveland Clinic
Verywell Health
Healthline
Association of American Medical Colleges
Dallas Children's Advocacy Center
March of Dimes
The Dallas Morning News
Healthgrades
HealthPartners
