What is pediatrics, and who are pediatricians?
Pediatrics refers to the branch of medicine which caters to the medical care of infants, children, and teens. A doctor who specializes in child care is known as a pediatrician. As children develop, they experience physical and mental changes at a fast pace. Pediatricians know this and examine a child's health using standard age ranges. They assist in the diagnosis of medical problems in children. Caregivers or parents may take their children to a pediatric specialist or primary care doctor, depending on the issue they are experiencing.
The common perception is that pediatric practitioners only treat infants or children. In reality, they can treat young adults up to twenty-one. In 1988, the American Academy of Pediatrics set the age of twenty-one as the upper limit for seeking pediatric care. However, exceptions are now permitted, ranging from a case-to-case basis.
Pediatricians help children maintain their physical, emotional, and social well-being. It may include treating ear infections, undertaking annual health exams, vaccinating, discussing behavioral problems with parents, etc. The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggested the same. It is also not uncommon to see pediatric care begin before the child's conception and continue through pregnancy. Pediatric research aims to lower baby and child mortality rates, restrict infectious disease transmission, promote healthy lifestyles for long, illness-free lives, and assist children and adolescents with chronic disorders.
Types of pediatricians
A lot of pediatricians serve as primary care doctors. This sort of pediatrician does routine health and wellness examinations. They also treat various general health problems, provide immunizations, and provide sound health advice to parents, children, or caretakers. Other pediatricians focus on particular medical issues or age groups. The following are some of the pediatric subspecialties:
- Adolescent medicine specialists: concentrate primarily on teenagers and help them safely and healthily navigate physical, behavioral, and emotional changes.
- Critical care pediatricians: They are generally hospital-based and look after children in acute or unstable conditions from a severe injury or illness.
- Developmental-behavioral pediatricians: They are focused on behavioral issues in a child and can provide psychosocial support. It can range from learning disorders, habits, behavioral tics, feeding problems, cerebral palsy, etc.
- Child abuse pediatricians: Their practice focuses on assessing child abuse or neglect.
- Pediatric oncologists concentrate on children with cancer or those prone to cancer.
- Pediatric cardiologists: specialize in timely diagnosing and treating children experiencing heart conditions.
- Pediatric neurologists: Their specialization focuses on children with neurological disorders.
- Pediatric endocrinologists: These practitioners specialize in helping children deal with issues such as diabetes, growth, puberty, or other hormonal-related disorders.
- Pediatric hospital medicine specialists: They care for children in hospital settings, such as the newborn nursery, emergency department, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit, etc.
Qualifications of a pediatrician
The American Board of Pediatrics states pediatricians must complete intensive training and education and get a license before treating children. They must complete a three-year residency program following medical school. During this period, they become exposed to various subspecialties such as cardiology, endocrinology, emergency medicine, etc.
After their residency, while some pediatricians continue the general practice, others pursue fellowship programs to get additional training in pediatric subspecialties. Acquiring a subspecialty fellowship may also necessitate fulfilling particular requirements for those fields.
A state license is mandatory before a pediatrician can begin their practice. The specific qualifications for licensure differ from state to state. Most pediatricians go one step further and become board-certified pediatricians.
One can achieve board certification by passing the American Board of Pediatrics examination. It allows practitioners to add the initials 'FAAP' after their name, indicating they have been inducted as a full Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Qualified pediatricians can safely administer vaccinations, treat dislocated shoulders or elbows, attend to minor injuries, remove foreign objects like splinters from the body, treat broken bones, perform circumcisions, etc.
When should your child see a pediatrician?
Your baby should see a pediatrician within 48 to 72 hours of being discharged after birth. Their second visit should occur when they are two to four weeks old. It would be best to take your child to a pediatrician during their first year at two, four, six, nine, and twelve months. Additionally, to ensure comprehensive care, finding the best pediatrician near you and scheduling appointments 15, 18, and 24 months after the kid's first birthday is crucial. Following that, annual visits to your child's pediatrician are beneficial. You can also make appointments whenever your child has a health concern or is ill.
Parents should take note of the following unusual behaviors or signs of severe illness in their children and visit a pediatrician.
- High-grade fever
- Sore throat
- Constant diarrhea
- Persistent coughing
- Episodes of unconsciousness
A pediatrician can thoroughly examine the child and provide recommendations for further treatment. In the event of an emergency that could lead to permanent harm or pose a threat to the child's life, emergency medical treatment may be necessary. Seeking advice from a pediatrician near you is crucial to determining the best action.
When should your child stop seeing a pediatrician?
Since pediatricians have the training to care for children primarily, your child will eventually need to be referred to a physician. It would be best to wait until your child becomes an adult; it may be advantageous to make the switch sooner.
The first step involves asking your child how they think of their current doctor and whether they would be comfortable switching. Some people may think they need to see a new doctor, while others may prefer to stick with the one they already know.
Older children and teens may show interest in seeing a "grown-up doctor" as they age. Children may become uncomfortable with their pediatrician's kid-friendly decor as they age.
Teenagers can even feel too embarrassed to discuss issues related to sexual health with their pediatrician because they view them as "little kid doctors." Furthermore, because family doctors commonly assist patients with sexual or gynecological health, making the switch as your child enters puberty may be advantageous.
Finally, deciding to switch from a pediatrician to a family practice physician depends on your child's specific health needs and whether they would feel more at ease seeing a family doctor.
Considerations while choosing a pediatrician:
Choosing the best pediatrician near you is a crucial decision. Below are some factors to consider:
- Convenient location: Choose a pediatrician near your home, work, or daycare for practicality, especially during frequent visits in the first year.
- Recommendations: Seek suggestions from your OB-GYN, family doctor, and trusted friends for reliable referrals.
- Checkup approach: Inquire about the pediatrician's procedures for the first hospital checkup after delivery.
- Feedback from your network: Gather inputs from friends and family about their experiences with pediatricians.
- Credentials and experience: Check for board certification and relevant experience in patient care, communication, and medical knowledge.
- Practice operations: Consider the operational aspects, including appointment flexibility, office hours, and consistency of seeing the same pediatrician.
- Impression at introductory visit: Evaluate the initial visit to gauge comfort, communication, and the pediatrician's interaction with your child.
Finding the best pediatrician for your child in Orlando, FL
While everyone needs to visit doctors they are comfortable with, it becomes more critical for children. The practitioner's attitude and the atmosphere of their practice must be suited and conducive to the betterment of the child.
Now that you know who a pediatrician is and what they do, the next step is to find the most suitable pediatrician for your child and their medical needs. Zocdoc helps you do just that by providing ready access to a repository of practitioners. You can conduct an area-specific search to find the best pediatricians. The interface is easy to use, allowing you to browse conveniently.
You can go through various practitioners' licensure, qualifications, and experience. To further enhance your convenience, you can also know the languages the doctor is fluent in, their timings, etc. Once you have browsed to your satisfaction and created a shortlist, you can view reliable and verified reviews from patients who have sought treatment with the practitioner in the past and make an informed decision. Zocdoc allows you to book an appointment safely, securely, and without additional costs. Don't compromise your child's health – find the best pediatrician near you with Zocdoc.
Statistics related to pediatrics in Orlando, Florida
Approximately 50,000 babies and children die in the United States of America each year due to various causes. Another 500,000 children live with life-threatening diseases generally marked by prognostic uncertainty and varying survival times. There has been a rise in the number of children admitted to hospitals during the pandemic.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, 1,180 general pediatricians were legally practicing in Florida. As per a report by America's Health Rankings, in September 2022, there were 102 pediatricians for every 100,000 children from 0 to 21 years old in the state. Another report by the same organization stated that from 2017 to 2018, 68.7% of kids below two years in Florida were fully vaccinated with the recommended doses.
In December 2021, the delta variant affected children worse than COVID-19 in 2020. The patterns at a hospital like Orlando Health were consistent with statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showing the most significant number of children in hospitals ever documented, with 230 children in hospitals across the state. In Florida, less than ten percent of children between the ages of five and eleven are vaccinated.
Sources
News Medical
Medical News Today
The American Board of Pediatrics
Wesh
USA Today
Verywell Health
Florida Medical Clinic
WebMD
Healthline
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
America’s Health Rankings
