Children’s health: what does a paediatrician do?
What is a paediatrician?
A paediatrician is a doctor who specialises in caring for children.
They are experts in managing diseases that affect children however tend to subspecialise into various facets of paediatric medicine, surgery and psychiatry.
What medical conditions do paediatricians treat?
Any problem that affects children, including:
- Medical
- Surgical
- Psychiatric
- Developmental
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What to expect at your child’s first visit to a paediatrician
History
Your child’s first visit will generally begin with their paediatrician asking about the presenting complaint, such as:
- When it began
- Its progress
- Its severity
- Any previous treatment and their responses
Next the paediatrician will focus on past:
- Medical problems
- Medications
- Allergies
- Social history
- Family history
Examination
Your paediatrician will usually commence the exam with a general assessment, which may include:
- Checking temperature
- Taking a pulse
- Measuring respiratory rate
- Evaluate general appearance
They will then move on to examine the specific area involved with the presentation. The findings of the history and examination will guide further investigations.
The information gathered is then put together to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment options are discussed.
Specialty areas of interest
- Neonatology – problems of the newborn
- Infectious diseases
- Developmental paediatrics
- Paediatric surgery
- Paediatric orthopaedic surgery
- Paediatric Ophthalmology
- Paediatric ear nose and throat surgery
- Paediatric plastic surgery and burns care
- Paediatric intensive care
- Paediatric respiratoy medicine
- Paediatric cardiology
- Paediatric nephrology
- Paediatric neurology
- Paediatric gastroenterology
- Paediatric urology
- Paediatric emergency medicine
- General paediatric medicine
- Paediatric psychiatry
- Paediatric dermatology
Associated tests
- Urinalysis
- Clean catch specimen
- Suprapubic aspiration (SPA)
- Micturating cystourethrogram
- DMSA scan
- Respiratory Function Tests
- Peak flow
- Blood tests
- Ultrasound
- CTÂ Scans
- MRI
- Plain X-Rays
Training and qualifications
Links
- Find a Paediatrician
- Children’s Healthcare Australia
- Raising Children Network Australia
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians – General Paediatrics
- The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK)
- American Academy of Pediatrics* (USA)
- Wikipedia – Pediatrics*
* American spelling
A: Use HealthEngine to find and book your next Paediatrician appointment. Click on the following locations to find a Paediatrician clinic in your state or territory.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If in doubt, HealthEngine recommends consulting with a registered health practitioner.
All content and media on the HealthEngine Blog is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the nearest hospital emergency department, or call the emergency services immediately.
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