There are people in this day
and age who still go to a general practitioner for any
ailment that they or their family may have. If it’s a mild case of a running
nose or a slight fever, that may be a good idea. But it is important to go to
specialists for more specific ailments. The same way it is important to take
your child to a pediatrician and not to a general practitioner for their
checkups, even if they are routine. This is because pediatricians have more
experience working with children and will notice certain symptoms and can
diagnose illnesses more effectively than a general practitioner.
In a nutshell, pediatricians
will take care of the physical, emotional, and social health of infants, pre
adolescents, pre teens, and young adults. Many people stop seeing pediatricians
once they’re around 16 but according to health definitions pediatricians can
look after the welfare of children from birth to 21 years. They have been
trained in the assessment, prevention, management and detection of the mental, physical,
developmental, and social problems that children may face.
What are the dangers that face children?
The whole world is a
dangerous place to an infant. From the safety of their mother’s womb, they have
been thrown into a world of germs and viruses. They need good care. Infants are
susceptible to a variety of illnesses. There are many immunizations that
protect children from these illnesses. The pediatrician will administer these immunizations
and keep a record of them, and make sure the correct prevention is given at the
correct time.
As infants grow into
toddlers, they start playing with other children. The spectrum of illnesses
that they can be exposed to is much more. There may also be cuts and bruises,
falls and breaks that need tending to.
Up to the age of nine or ten,
children will still be susceptible to infections more easily than adults. Some
children might show signs of developmental problems which may be recognized in
school. A pediatrician will be able to help the child and the families cope
with dealing with these problems. There may be children who still cling on to
child like behavior, are still bed wetting etc. These may be related to some
kind of mental or social problems that the child may be facing at home or
school. Obesity is rising in the country and it is important that your child is
eating healthy food and leading a healthy lifestyle.
The teenage years can be very
trying for many children. Their immunity levels may have gone up as they grow
older and therefore their susceptibility to infections may have gone down. But
there are whole host of new problems that face teenagers. Problems in school,
sex education, bullying in schools etc are among the many issues that children
need help dealing with. Their pediatrician will be someone they are familiar
with and someone they trust. What they do not want to tell their families, they
may find easier to tell an outsider they trust.
As you can see, a
pediatrician’s role in a child’s life doesn’t stop at infancy. They need to be
a part of the child’s life for a long time. The pediatrician will know the
history of your child, from all the illnesses they have had, to all the issues
they have had to deal with. It is important therefore to make a pediatric check
up a regular routine in your child’s life. If you do that, illnesses and other
problems can be detected early on and help given.
Make time for the
pediatrician!
