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Who is a pediatrician?

Pediatricians are doctors who take explicit care of children and teenagers. They are sometimes known as baby doctors. Their key responsibilities include providing general pediatric medical care and administering vaccines to newborns and children. They also monitor their growth and development.

Pediatricians also treat children's physical, behavioral, and mental well-being from birth to adolescence. They detect and treat various illnesses in children, from minor ailments to life-threatening diseases.

After finishing medical school, pediatricians complete a three-year residency program. The American Board of Pediatrics requires pediatricians to pass rigorous exams. Pediatricians must continue their education to maintain their certification.

What are some pediatric subspecialties?

Besides general pediatricians, there are many other types of pediatricians, including: 

• Adolescent medicine specialists: They cater to healthcare needs arising from physical, emotional, and behavioral changes in teenagers and young adults between 11-21 years of age.
• Pediatric allergy and immunology: These practitioners deal with pediatric allergies such as food allergies, asthma, hay fever, and eczema.
• Pediatric cardiologist: These doctors focus on congenital heart defects, heart murmurs, arrhythmia, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and other heart problems affecting children.
• Child abuse pediatrician: These doctors are responsible for diagnosing and treating infants, children, and adolescents who have been victims of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
• Pediatric critical care medicine: These doctors provide special care to children with an unstable, life-threatening condition or injury,
• Pediatric dermatologist: These practitioners can care for individuals up to 18-21 years old having eczema, acne, warts, birthmarks, cradle cap, diaper rash, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, chicken pox, hives, and other pediatric dermatology conditions.
• Pediatric endocrinologist: These doctors focus on growth and development disorders like short stature and delayed puberty, thyroid disorders, diabetes, obesity, and other hormone-related issues in children.
• Pediatric gastroenterologist: These doctors deal with pediatric digestive, nutritional, and liver problems, such as lactose intolerance, food allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic constipation, severe diarrhea, or liver disease.
• Pediatric hematology-oncology specialist: These doctors specialize in blood disorders and cancers affecting children. 
• Pediatric hospitalist: These practitioners care for infants, children, and adolescents admitted to the hospital. 
• Pediatric infectious diseases specialist: These doctors help with pediatric diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, such as bone infections, blood infections, diphtheria, sinusitis, scabies, and more.
• Neonatal-perinatal medicine specialist: These specialists care for premature and critically ill babies.
• Pediatric nephrologist: These doctors can diagnose, treat, and manage kidney diseases in children.
• Pediatric neurologist: These practitioners deal with pediatric neurological conditions and injuries, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, encephalitis, and concussion. 
• Pediatric pulmonologist: These doctors cater to pediatric respiratory disorders like the common cold, asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis, strep throat, and pneumonia.
• Pediatric rheumatologist: These doctors help children with autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and lupus. 

What does a pediatrician do?

From birth to age two, your child's pediatrician will see them several times and then visit one time a year from age two to age five for "well-child visits." The pediatrician will most likely see them once a year after five for annual checkups. Your specialist is the first person to contact when your child becomes ill.

A pediatrician does the following for your child:

• Examine your child
• Provide vaccines
• Ascertain that your child is on track to fulfill developmental milestones in growth, behavior, and abilities.
• Treat your child's illnesses, injuries, infections, and other health issues.
• Give details about your child's health, safety, nutrition, and exercise requirements.
• Respond to your concerns regarding your child's development and growth.

Responsibilities and obligations of a pediatrician

A pediatrician's responsibilities could range from immunization and routine health checks to diagnosing and treating various injuries and illnesses.

A pediatrician's responsibilities include the following:

• Consultations with patients and examinations
• Educating patients, parents, and guardians on the importance of a healthy diet, exercise, and hygiene
• Maintaining records and writing medical reports
• Explaining prescriptions and treatment alternatives
• Observing and evaluating the growth and development of youngsters
• Monitoring the patient's outcome and determining whether or not additional therapy is required
• Collaborating with other specialists to provide care
• Taking care of emergencies (if based in a hospital) 

Why should you visit a pediatrician?

Visits to the pediatrician allow you to ensure that your child is reaching developmental milestones. During these visits, your child's pediatrician will conduct a comprehensive examination and check for common health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or scoliosis.

Due to shorter eustachian tubes, ear infections are common in young children. The eustachian line connects the nose and middle ear, balancing air pressure. Ear infections arise from viruses and bacteria lodged in the eustachian tube. Although many ear infections resolve independently, they may require medications in some circumstances.

You may also need to visit the pediatrician if your child suffers from runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, sore throat, coughing, and other common symptoms, including the flu and other infections. Although you can treat minor conditions at home, it is better to contact your pediatrician to get the appropriate care for illnesses caused by pathogens like viruses and bacteria.

Pediatricians' role during pregnancy

The beginning of your third trimester is the ideal time to start your search for the best pediatrician near you. It would help if you look for a doctor you feel at ease with and who fits your needs well. Many hospitals may inquire about your pediatrician when you check in for delivery. If a pediatrician is available at the hospital or you already have one, they may conduct your baby's first examinations. Early-born babies will probably go to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where a neonatal pediatrician and nurses will care for the baby until they are healthy enough to go home with the mother.

If it is a standard and healthy delivery, you may leave after two to three days of hospital care. After hospital care, your pediatrician will see your baby after about 48-72 hours of delivery. They will also refer to the baby's medical records from the hospital stay during delivery. After this, the pediatrician may regularly see your child for well-child visits. They will also work with other medical experts if your child needs specialized treatment. 

Tips for a healthy lifestyle for your children

Healthy habits are a strong foundation for future health in children. These helpful tips will help them enjoy a long, healthy, disease-free life.

• Regular meals: Break up meals into smaller amounts and consume them regularly. This strategy could be helpful if the youngster is picky about their meals.
• Increased fruits and vegetables: Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables gives the immune system the fiber, vitamins, and minerals it needs for proper functioning.
• Low sugar consumption: Diabetes and high cholesterol are two conditions more likely to affect children whose daily calorie intake of added sugar is 10% or higher. Long-term dental problems might also arise.
• Sound sleep: Getting adequate sleep is essential for physical and mental health. As you sleep, your body fortifies its defenses and heals. Make a habit of turning off the lights at the exact time every night.
• Encourage kids to participate in sports: Professionals advise giving kids at least an hour of physical activity every day, whether through sports or other activities.
• Dietary balance: Children need the right proportions of proteins, vitamins, fatty acids, minerals, and carbohydrates for optimum growth. Five food groups are advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: grains, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and meals high in protein. One should include a balanced serving of food from each category at every meal.
• Drink the right amount of water: Water is essential for many biological processes, such as waste elimination, joint lubrication, and protecting sensitive areas like the spinal cord. One should try to drink at least eight glasses of water daily.
• Good hygiene: Keeping oneself clean might aid the body's defense against pathogens. Regularly washing your hands is a vital hygiene habit that can help avoid several infections, including COVID-19. Develop and reinforce good hygiene practices in your child, such as not sharing personal items with others and using tissues when coughing or sneezing.

Finding the best pediatricians near you in Houston

Choosing a qualified and friendly pediatrician is crucial. Zocdoc can help you search for a top-rated pediatrician in your neighborhood. Enter the medical condition or procedure and your locality, and we will display the best matching providers. You can also compare pediatricians based on their profiles, which contain information about their education, clinical training, experience, board certifications, awards, affiliations, conditions treated, and insurance accepted. 

In addition, you can also get access to several verified patient reviews to help you make the best decision for your children.

Once you have found the best pediatrician near you, go ahead and book a virtual or in-person consultation in the blink of an eye.

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Health parameters in Texas

According to numbers published by Texas Health and Human Services in 2023, over 22,156,803 individuals in Texas have received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Overall,18,335,278 persons in Texas are fully immunized. Approximately 80,13,276 individuals, or 23%, also received a booster dosage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that Texas's infant mortality rate (IMR) has been below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 6.0 per 1,000 live births since 2012. The Texas IMR was around 5.4 per 1,000 live births, whereas Hidalgo and Smith's counties had IMRs of 4.6 and 7.5 per 1,000 live births, respectively.

Sources

Reed.co.uk

Royal Pediatrics

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

USA Facts

WebMD

Mom Junction

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Texas Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Verywell Health 

Council of Pediatric Subspecialties

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.