Table Of Contents
What Is Pediatrics?
Pediatrics is a field of medicine that focuses on treating and preventing illnesses and injuries in children. Pediatricians typically provide care in patients up to the age of 18. Pediatrics has been around since the 19th century, so it is one of the newest medical specialties. Idaho offers pediatrics through many of its hospitals, clinics and primary care doctors.
The Job of a Pediatrician
Pediatricians treat children, but they also provide preventative care. Their goal is to help children stay in the best physical, emotional and mental health possible.
The Purpose of Pediatrics
Pediatrics is focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and helping stopping the spread of disease in children. This field is also focused on treating chronic conditions in children. The field of pediatrics has helped reduce child and infant death rates. Pediatricians can treat the following conditions.
- Infections
- Genetic conditions
- Congenital conditions
- Organ diseases
- Cancer
Pediatrics isn’t just about treating illnesses in children. It also helps improve a child’s quality of life by helping them live with a disability or illness. A pediatrician can also address the following issues.
- Behavior issues
- Development disorders
- Social stresses
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Function disabilities
Teaming Up With Other Medical Specialists
Pediatricians throughout Idaho often collaborate with other healthcare providers in order to give a child the best care possible. If a child has complex physical or mental needs, then they may have to be referred to a specialist.
How Is The Field of Pediatrics Different From The Field of Adult Medicine?
There are several ways that adult medicine is different from pediatrics. Children have smaller bodies than adults. That is why they have to be treated differently. It is important to note that children are not just mini-adults.
Not just in Idaho but throughout the United States, children are more affected by developmental problems, genetic problems and congenital problems than adults are. There are also legal issues that have to be addressed when treating children. In most places, children are not able to make their own medical decisions. Legal responsibility, privacy and guardianship are just a few of the many issues that have to be addressed when treating children.
What Type of Training Does an Idaho Pediatrician Receive?
Pediatricians have to start their career off by graduating from medical school. After that, they will have to treat a pediatric residency. A residency will typically last about three years. The focus of the residency is treating children, infants and adolescents.
People who successfully complete their residency will be able to pass an exam that is given by the American Board of Pediatrics. The pediatrician will then be board-certified. A certification will last seven years.
Types of Pediatrics Subspecialties
A subspecialty is a more narrow focus of a broader field. The following is a list of subspecialties.
- Critical care medicine
- Hematology
- Pediatric oncology
- Nephrology
- Neonatal medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
When to Take Your Child to the Pediatrician
All children need to see the pediatrician periodically for regular exams. Your child may also get vaccinations during these visits. It is estimated that 16 percent of children who are between the ages of three and 17 have at least one behavior or developmental problem. It is a lot easier to treat a problem if it is identified early.
A pediatrician will evaluate your child’s mental and physical health. They will also make sure that your child is meeting all of the milestones that they should be hitting. Additionally, they will ask questions about your child’s social, sleeping and eating habits.
There are also many health issues that need to be addressed by a pediatrician immediately. If your child is over the age of two and has had a fever for more than three days, then you should take them to the pediatrician. You should also take your child to the pediatrician if they have diarrhea, sore throat, headaches or have been vomiting for more than 24 hours.
