Pediatrics
Who Needs Pediatric Care?
Infants, children, and adolescents through the age of 18 years should see a pediatrician, a specialist in healthcare for babies, children, and teenagers.
Pediatricians provide medical care for acute and chronic illness in children as well as preventive services for healthy children. They manage physical, emotional, and mental healthcare for every stage of childhood development and any level of health or illness.
Why Do We Offer Pediatric Care?
The specialized study of pediatrics has a critical mission.
- Reducing mortality (death) in infants and children
- Controlling infectious disease, including its spread and outbreaks
- Monitoring and treating chronic illness in the pediatric population
- Promoting healthy choices for a disease-free life
While children are prone to many of the same injuries and illnesses as adults, their smaller body size and physical and mental immaturity is significantly different from adults and requires expert knowledge in those differences*.
- The criteria for a child’s blood pressure, respiration rate, heart rate, and temperature is different from an adult.
- The injury patterns for children are often distinct. Their bones are more flexible and don’t fracture as easily as an adult, which can cause a substantial impact on their growing skeletons.
- Small children have a larger head-to-body ratio and are more prone to head and neck injuries because of it. Those who specialize in treating children are more aware of the warning signs for these injuries in children.
Congenital defects, genetic variation, and developmental issues are more significant for an infant or young child than for an adult. Also, there are legal concerns in the pediatric population that are not present for most adult patients.
Children are minors and typically cannot make healthcare decisions for themselves. Every pediatric encounter must consider the issues of guardianship, legal responsibility, privacy, and informed consent.
Common Pediatric Problems and Conditions
- Infections
- Injuries and accidents
- Congenital or genetic conditions and diseases
- Organ disease and dysfunction
- Cancer of all types
- Developmental delays and disorders
- Behavioral or functional issues
- Mental health disorders including depression and anxiety
- Social stress
Pediatric care is highly collaborative, with the pediatrician working closely with other specialists and healthcare professionals. The field of pediatrics has several sub-specialties for children with complex health problems who require different treatment than an adult with the same condition.
FUN FACT: The word pediatrics literally means “healer of children.” It is derived from two Greek words – pais, meaning child, and iatros, meaning doctor or healer.
Pediatrics is a relatively new medical specialty that was introduced and developed by the father of pediatrics, Abraham Jacobi, in the mid-1800s. We are proud to continue his work by providing top-notch pediatric care.