Who is a pediatrician?
A medical doctor who treats children – from newborns to young adults – is called a pediatrician. These doctors are essential to a child's well-being and health regimen. They have a wide range of information and are skilled in preventing, diagnosing, and managing children's behavioral, physical, and developmental issues. They collaborate with delivery teams to observe the health of newborns at birth and throughout their hospital stay. Some pediatricians also focus on particular health conditions that impact children.
Parents see a pediatrician frequently during the first two years of their child's life. From age two to five, well-child visits are likely the norm. These scheduled check-ups will regularly monitor the child's overall well-being and developmental milestones. After age five, annual visits will suffice except when your child is ill.
What does a pediatrician do?
Pediatricians provide a wide range of medical treatments, encompassing health and wellness screenings, the management of complex medical conditions, physical exams, vaccination administration, treatment of injuries (including fractures and dislocations), evaluation of a child's physical, emotional, and social development, prescription of medications (such as pain relievers and antibiotics), provision of general health advice, diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions, and the provision of referrals to other pediatric specialists, if necessary. Through all these services, pediatricians track the child's overall development and watch out for delays or anomalies.
A primary care pediatrician may lack the qualifications or expertise to manage complex medical conditions and may refer a family to the appropriate specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
Pediatric subspecialties
Following graduation from medical school, aspiring pediatricians complete a three-year residency program in pediatrics. During this time, they undergo clinical rotations in the various pediatric subspecialties. At the end of the residency, they can take the written board certification exam conducted by the American Board of Pediatrics.
General pediatricians provide primary care and may refer their patients to specialists if required. Pediatricians who subspecialize complete the relevant training requirements for each subspecialty. Some subspecialties are as follows:
A doctor who chooses pediatric cardiology gains expertise in diagnosing and treating heart problems in children. Adolescent medicine specialists have training in helping teens and young adults between 11 and 21. They are skilled in handling young patients' behavioral, physical, and emotional issues.
Pediatric critical care medicine specialists assist and care for children in unstable, severe conditions caused by injury or a severe illness. Child abuse pediatricians undergo training to evaluate children who may be victims of neglect or abuse.
Developmental behavioral pediatrics enables practitioners to learn, evaluate, and manage developmental and behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Some examples are learning disorders, developmental disabilities, habit disorders, and issues such as discipline difficulties. This specialty also covers cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and feeding problems.
Pediatric rheumatologists treat autoimmune diseases where the immune system attacks the body's healthy cells. Pediatric pulmonology specialists care for children with breathing or lung disorders. Pediatric nephrology specialists gain skills in treating children with kidney disease.
Pediatric infectious disease practitioners deal with children with congenital or acquired immune system diseases. Pediatric hospital medicine practitioners usually work in a hospital setting. They care for children across the hospital – emergency department, newborn nursery, pediatric acute care areas, and labor and delivery.
Neonatal-perinatal medicine pediatricians gain experience in caring for premature and high-risk babies. Pediatric gastroenterologists treat children with digestive diseases or conditions. In comparison, pediatric hematology-oncologists focus on treating cancer and blood disorders in children.
Pediatric endocrinologists address disorders of the hormonal gland. Growth, diabetes, and puberty problems merit consultations with a pediatric endocrinologist at the earliest. Pediatric emergency medicine allows a pediatrician to provide emergency care in a hospital's emergency department for children who are acutely ill or injured.
What to look for in a pediatrician?
Every parent looks for the best when it's for their child, and the search for a pediatrician is no exception. You must be able to trust the pediatrician and have faith in their abilities. Learn as much as possible about the doctor before scheduling the first appointment. Gather information about the pediatrician from friends, family, and online resources.
Finding a pediatrician near you can be convenient, especially during an emergency visit. If you prefer hospitals, you should check if the pediatrician is associated with any of those. Accordingly, you can follow the tips below to find the right pediatrician for your child:
- Go through the pediatrician's website: Most healthcare professionals have some form of online presence to help gain credibility. You can visit a pediatrician's website to find details like their years of experience, qualifications, office hours, languages they speak, and affiliations. You can also review their patient testimonials to understand their practice and services.
- Consider location: Infants and children can get sick often for various reasons. Hence, choosing a pediatrician near you can be beneficial when you need to visit for urgent medical needs. It will also ensure your child gets medical attention quickly.
- After-hours care: Children can get sick often, and you may need a pediatrician to provide after-hours care. Although not all pediatricians offer such care, selecting a provider that does would be beneficial. You can contact their practice or ask the pediatrician if they provide such services. While some may offer virtual consultations, others may even allow late-night or weekend appointments if needed.
- Get to know the team: Pediatricians often collaborate with other healthcare providers, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or other pediatricians. Knowing about them or meeting them beforehand can help you feel at ease when visiting them for appointments. It will also help ensure your child feels comfortable during their visits.
- Consider your child's needs: Knowing about your child's unique healthcare needs can help you appropriately choose the right pediatrician who specializes in such fields.
- Finance options: Like other healthcare professionals, visiting a pediatrician can be costly. Hence, you can find out if they provide convenient finance options like installments or accept particular insurance providers. You can also find in-network pediatricians with the help of Zocdoc. It will help you save on appointments, diagnostics, and other specialized care costs.
When should you consult a pediatrician?
Parents often encounter the challenge of determining which infections they can manage at home and which require a visit to the pediatrician. In such cases, it is best to consult a practitioner who can offer your child the necessary expertise and care.
Here are some indications that can assist you in identifying when it is time to search for the best pediatricians near you:
- Fever: Many infectious diseases accompany a fever in children. If your child's temperature remains at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for over three days, you must take them to the pediatrician for further evaluation.
- Common cold: Upper respiratory tract viruses are the source of colds. Many young kids—especially those in daycare—can have six or eight colds annually. A cold's symptoms, including congestion, runny nose, and cough, can last up to 10 days. Antibiotics are not always necessary for common colds, except for green mucus in the nose. Based on your child's symptoms and a physical examination, your doctor will carefully consider if antibiotics are the best option if a sinus infection is suspected.
- Cough: Antibiotics are rarely needed for coughs because viruses typically cause them. Unless prescribed by a physician, children between the ages of 0 and 6 should not take cough medicine. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that cough medications carry the potential for significant adverse effects and are ineffective in children ages four and under. It is not advisable to use cough medications containing narcotics for kids.
- Labored breathing: If your child experiences difficulty breathing that does not improve with home remedies, it may signify a more severe respiratory infection requiring medical attention.
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea: Consult a healthcare professional if your child experiences continuous vomiting or diarrhea despite dietary restrictions.
- Sore throat with fever: A strep throat indicates a sore throat accompanied by fever and tenderness in the neck. This condition usually necessitates antibiotic treatment for optimal recovery.
- Ear pain during an upper respiratory infection: If your child experiences ear pain alongside a cold, it strongly suggests an ear infection, especially if it begins four or five days after the cold symptoms start. Such cases typically require antibiotics to achieve the most effective treatment.
- Chronic bronchitis: A common infection in adults, chronic bronchitis affects the more significant central airways of the lungs. Antibiotics are unnecessary for a chest virus called bronchitis.
- Skin infection: For most children with skin problems, a swab or culture skin test may be necessary to determine the appropriate course of treatment. 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.
- Bronchiolitis: During the cold and flu season, babies and early children frequently contract bronchiolitis. Your child may exhibit "wheezing" during breathing. Antibiotics are not necessary for the majority of viruses that cause bronchiolitis. Instead, most therapy options focus on getting your child comfortable while closely monitoring them for breathing, feeding, or dehydration symptoms. It is not advisable to give asthma patients' medications (such as steroids or albuterol) to most newborns and young children who have bronchiolitis. Treatment regimens may vary for children who have underlying medical conditions or were born prematurely.
- Bacterial Sinusitis: Bacteria that become stuck in the sinuses cause this condition. When cold-like symptoms, such as nasal discharge, a daytime cough, or both, persist for more than ten days without improvement, healthcare providers consider it sinusitis. You may require antibiotics if this disease accompanies yellow nasal discharge and fever for three or four days.
Remember, promptly seeking medical advice from the best pediatricians near you ensures your child's well-being and aids in appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
Find the right pediatrician in Kennesaw, Georgia
Children require the care and attention of a good pediatrician. But searching for the best pediatricians in Kennesaw is easier said than done. Nevertheless, with Zocdoc, you can locate a suitable specialist who stays in your locality with just a few clicks.
Our easy-to-use platform gives you access to an extensive database of doctors nationwide. Use the location, gender, and hospital affiliation filters to refine your search. You can also narrow the list by entering symptoms and insurance coverage to find only those who fit your requirements.
You can also update your Zocdoc account's insurance information to get filtered results of pediatricians who accept your insurance. Accordingly, you can upload a picture of your health plan card on the Zocdoc app to get filtered results. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs.
Click on the individual profiles of each pediatrician to learn about their educational qualifications, experience, spoken languages, awards, and accreditations. Check the verified patient reviews and ratings to determine whether the practitioner fits well.
Zocdoc also lets you book a virtual appointment with the chosen practitioner before scheduling an in-person session. The easy booking process allows you to pick slots based on the doctor's availability. Some physicians may be available on weekends and outside of regular business hours.
With Zocdoc, booking an appointment with the best pediatricians near you is free, simple, and secure.
Statistics on pediatricians in Kennesaw, U.S
Good pediatricians are in great demand across the United States. The number of pediatric first-year trainees in 2020 for US-based programs was around 3,086. The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has collated this data. As per this data, the category medicine–pediatrics had the most trainees at about 390, with neonatal-perinatal coming in second place with around 261 trainees.
As per the May 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 33,620 pediatricians nationwide and 800 in Georgia.
Data from the American Medical Association Masterfile on children's mental health published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that in 2015, Cobb County, where Kennesaw lies, had about 7.2 pediatricians for every 10,000 children.
Sources
WebMD
Medical News Today
Children's Hospital of Orange County
Verywell Health
Cleveland Clinic
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The American Board of Pediatrics
HealthyChildren.org
