What Is Pediatrics?

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of babies, children, adolescents, and young adults from birth to age 21 years. Pediatrics deals with the immediate management sickness in children and young adults as well as long term effects on quality of life, disability and survival.

What Does a Pediatrician Do?

Pediatricians focus on prevention, detection, and management of physical, behavioral, developmental, and social problems that affect children. They provide medical care for children who are ill as well as preventive health services for healthy children.

Basically, pediatricians take care of children. This might involve treating an ear infection, talking to parents about school or behavioral problems, or seeing them for checkups and giving them their shots.

Why Do You Need a Pediatrician?

  • Pediatricians have specialized training in the physical, emotional, and behavioral needs of children.
  • Pediatricians only see children and youth, so they typically have more experience recognizing and treating childhood illnesses.
  • If your child has a health condition that needs close monitoring, a pediatrician may offer more specialized care.
  • He or she will help you understand complex information and help you make decisions as needed.