Who are pediatricians?
Pediatricians are medical specialists with the training and knowledge to care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Typically, their role in their patients' lives begins at birth and may last until age 21 or even longer in some instances. They work towards preventing, detecting, and managing children's physical, mental, and developmental problems.
A pediatrician can undertake physical examinations, provide vaccinations, perform regular checkups, and prescribe medication when necessary. They keep track of the child's overall development and help new parents navigate parenthood. They help treat injuries such as dislocations and fractures and, if needed, may even refer patients to other specialists.
A pediatrician's practice can seem similar to a primary care physician's since they care for children's overall health and well-being and become their first point of contact for any health concern.
Educational qualifications of a pediatrician
Aspiring pediatricians begin by completing an undergraduate degree with pre-medical courses like chemistry and biology. Subsequently, they must enroll in a four-year medical school where they take up coursework such as physiology and anatomy, take part in clinical rotations, and learn about areas of medicine like pediatrics, neurology, emergency medicine, etc.
They must then move on to a residency program that usually lasts three years and includes pediatrics-focused training, such as general medical care for children, newborn intensive care, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, etc. Pediatricians pick up all the skills required to treat various conditions affecting children during this.
After residency, they may enter general pediatric practice or streamline their practice in a specific childcare field by pursuing fellowship programs lasting two to six years. They can specialize in subjects like adolescent medicine, pediatric surgery, child abuse, neonatology, pediatric cardiology, etc.
Types of pediatricians
Many pediatricians practice as primary care doctors. They conduct regular health checkups and provide diagnosis and treatment for various general health disorders. They also offer vaccinations to individuals and health advice to children and their parents. Other pediatricians focus on specific medical issues or age groups.
The following are some common types of pediatric subspecialties:
- Adolescent medicine specialists focus on caring for patients between 11 and 21.
- Critical care pediatricians work with teams of healthcare experts to treat children with unstable or severe health conditions. These pediatricians typically operate in intensive care units in hospitals.
- Developmental behavioral pediatricians assess children's and adolescents' behavioral development. Specialists in this field identify and treat children's developmental, learning, and behavioral issues.
- Child abuse pediatricians have specialized training, expertise, and skills to determine whether a child has been abused or neglected.
- Pediatric oncologists are experts in diagnosing and treating many forms of cancer in children.
- Pediatric cardiologists diagnose and treat children's cardiac diseases. Many pediatric cardiologists work closely with heart surgeons to determine optimal treatment techniques.
- Pediatric rheumatologists diagnose and treat musculoskeletal problems in children and adolescents, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain.
- Pediatric nephrologists treat urinary system issues, such as kidney disease or UTIs.
- Pediatric neurologists treat and manage children's neurological problems. Neurological concerns that develop during childhood may persist throughout adulthood. Pediatric neurologists care for their patients from diagnosis through adolescence.
- Neonatal-perinatal pediatricians offer care for babies before, during, and after birth. They also care for neonates who are premature or very unwell.
- Pediatric gastroenterologists provide healthcare for children's digestive tract.
- Pediatric endocrinologists focus on the endocrine system and the hormones that it secretes. Diabetes is one of the many illnesses an endocrinologist can treat in children.
How do you choose a pediatrician?
Choosing a pediatrician near you that serves your and your child's health goals is necessary. Here are some questions to think about when choosing a pediatrician:
- Does the doctor have a strong reputation?
- What is the doctor's training and experience?
- Does the pediatrician understand my views on breastfeeding and vaccinations?
- Does the provider listen to me and explain things clearly?
- Will my child see the same doctor during each visit?
- Who covers for the pediatrician when they are unavailable?
- Is the office staff friendly and helpful?
- Is the office location convenient for me?
- How long does it take to get an appointment?
- Does the provider offer evening and weekend hours? Who will see my child during those times?
- How are emergencies and after-hours calls managed?
Common childhood diseases and their treatments
Every youngster should have access to top-notch healthcare. Parents must know the most recent treatment guidelines to ensure their child receives the best care possible.
Here are some of the most prevalent childhood ailments and recommended treatments:
Children frequently experience ear discomfort, which can stem from various factors such as an ear infection (otitis media), swimmer's ear, pressure from a cold or sinus infection, pain from teeth that travels up the jaw to the ear, and more. Your pediatrician must examine your child's ear to make the distinction. The most accurate approach of your pediatrician for diagnosis is still through an in-office examination. If your child's ear discomfort affects both ears, is accompanied by a high temperature, or exhibits other sickness symptoms, your pediatrician may determine that prescribing an antibiotic is the best course of action.
Children frequently get sore throats, which can be pretty painful. Antibiotics are not necessary for a viral sore throat, though. In certain circumstances, your child should recover in seven to ten days without particular medication. In some situations, a streptococcal infection (strep throat) may be the source of a painful throat.
To confirm the diagnosis of strep, a lab test or an in-office fast strep test, which involves a brief throat swab, is required. Your pediatrician will recommend an antibiotic if a strep test result is positive. Your child must take the antibiotic as directed for the entire prescribed period, even if the symptoms improve or go away.
Most children with skin infections may require a skin test (swab or culture) to identify the best course of action. Inform your physician if your kid has ever had an MRSA, staph, or other resistant bacteria infection. Also, let them know if they have come into touch with any other family members or contacts with resistant bacteria.
Bacteria accumulate in the urinary tract and cause bladder infections, often known as urinary tract infections or UTIs. Abdominal pain, side or back pain, frequent or urgent urination, bedwetting, or accidents by a youngster who knows how to use the restroom are all symptoms of UTI.
Before deciding on a course of therapy, your child's physician must test for a UTI using a urine sample. The type of germs in your child's urine may determine how your doctor modifies the course of treatment.
How frequently should your child see a pediatrician?
You should take your newborn to one of the best pediatricians near you within 48 to 72 hours of discharge. Their second visit should occur when they are two to four weeks old, followed by two, four, six, nine, and twelve months. Then, you should get your baby examined at 15, 18, and 24 months after their first birthday. Following that, it is best to have annual visits to your child's pediatrician. You can also make appointments whenever your child has a health concern.
Why must adolescents continue seeing their pediatrician?
Many parents switch their children to a primary care physician when they reach their early or mid-teens. However, pediatricians can care for children until age 19-21, and as per the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, parents should take time to change practitioners. Letting children visit their pediatrician through adolescence and until adulthood can help them receive consistent care.
Pediatricians hold a unique position that allows them to watch children grow. Therefore, they can easily spot subtle changes in their patient's health that any other physician may miss due to a lack of familiarity. They help parents understand their children better through the changes of adolescence. They generally advise parents to observe any drastic behavior changes that continue over a few days and bring them to their attention. These may include socially active teenagers suddenly becoming reclusive, physically active children growing up to avoid the sport they loved, etc.
Puberty also brings many questions that children may want to ask, including bodily changes and many different aspects. Children may feel uncomfortable posing such questions to new doctors or other adults. A long-standing relationship with their doctor allows adolescents to truly open up to them, making the pediatrician a trusted confidant. Thus, investing in finding the best pediatricians near you benefits your child and their well-being.
Many psychiatric disorders often begin during adolescence, and staying with pediatricians who can put the teenagers' new-found behaviors and life experiences into some context becomes imperative. They may conduct a teenage HEADSS assessment to address their patient's mental and emotional concerns. A HEADSS assessment (Home,
Education/Employment, peer group Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide/depression) is a psychological history method used by pediatricians on adolescents and tweens (between ages 8 and 12) to facilitate open communication by creating a sympathetic, respectful, and confidential environment. It helps pediatricians detect any signs of worry to provide focused medical attention to adolescent patients.
When should your child switch from a pediatrician to a family doctor?
Many parents develop a bond with their child's pediatrician, but as children grow, you may wonder when it is time to switch to a primary care doctor (PCP) or family doctor who sees patients of all ages. There is no specific age for this transition, as many pediatricians continue seeing patients in their early 20s. However, there are several factors you may need to consider when thinking of this transition, such as:
- The pediatrician may have an age limit beyond which they will no longer see your child.
- As your child grows, they may feel uncomfortable sitting in a pediatrician's waiting room surrounded by toddlers.
- During the growing years, children may experience physical, hormonal, mental, or social changes that they feel more comfortable discussing with a primary care doctor or family doctor.
- A PCP or other specialist can diagnose and treat a broader range of issues like obesity or diabetes and offer advice on matters such as safe driving, healthy relationships, and the use of alcohol and tobacco.
Ultimately, transitioning from a pediatrician to a family doctor depends on your child's specific health needs and comfort level. Once your child feels ready to switch, you should start looking for a new provider with whom they will feel at ease.
How do you find the best pediatricians near you in Edison, NJ?
Finding a pediatrician you trust and can rely on is essential. You can do this by comparing pediatricians in your area to find the right fit. Zocdoc can help you achieve this with its convenient and easy-to-navigate user interface.
To find the best pediatrician, enter the details of your area (Edison, New Jersey) or symptoms, and a list of the best pediatricians in your vicinity will appear. Each listed practitioner on Zocdoc has a unique profile you can browse to learn about their educational qualifications, areas of expertise, experience, awards, accreditations, ratings, etc. You may also streamline your search using filters such as gender, language, and hospital affiliations and even find practitioners who accept your insurance plan.
You can also upload a photo of your medical insurance card to Zocdoc to find the right insurance plan. However, if you do not want to do this, you can simply enter your insurance information into your account by choosing your plan from a selection. For any insurance-related queries, check out Zocdoc's patient help center.
You can read verified reviews from previous patients to understand the doctor's practice and reputation further. Once you have decided, Zocdoc will help you instantly book an in-person or virtual consultation with the pediatrician of your choice.
All bookings with Zocdoc are free, easy, and secure!
Pediatrics statistics for New Jersey
The Pediatric Physicians Workforce Data Book 2018-2019, published by the American Board of Pediatrics, showed nearly 1,978,999 children and 2,287 pediatric practitioners in New Jersey. This implies that there were ~865.3 children for every pediatric diplomate or ~115.6 diplomates for every 100,000 children. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics further concluded that in 2021, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metropolitan area was home to approximately 3,990 pediatricians, the highest among all in the United States.
In 2018, the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data findings reported nearly 101,171 new births in New Jersey, with almost 8,957 in Middlesex County, where Edison is. It showed that the county had ~7.7% of children born with Low Birth Weight (LBW), ~8.1% fetal deaths, and ~3.8% deaths per 1,000 live births. Between 1990 and 2018, ~3.8% of children in Middlesex had childhood brain and central nervous system cancers, while ~5.9% had
leukemia.
Between 2021 and 2022, the State of New Jersey Department of Health determined that approximately 36,577 children (~93.6%) in Middlesex County fully met all immunization requirements and were vaccinated as per norms, surpassing the state's average of ~92.6%.
Sources
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
The American Board of Pediatrics
New Jersey State Health Assessment Data
The State of New Jersey Department of Health
Cleveland Clinic
Children's Physicians Medical Group
Providence Health & Services
Ochsner Health
MedicalNewsToday
Healthychildren.org
Hackensack Meridian Health
WebMD
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