A pediatrician is a doctor specializing in the care of children from birth to adulthood, who has the general knowledge necessary to act in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases in this age group, such as colds, gastroenteritis and asthma.
The pediatrics specialty is also responsible for guiding vaccinations, monitoring weight gain, growth and development of children’s skills. Furthermore, the pediatrician is important to guide the family and refer the child to other professionals whenever necessary so that they receive all the necessary support at each stage of life until adulthood.
The pediatrician’s objective is to ensure that children develop their full potential and become independent adults capable of deciding about their future.
What does a pediatrician do
Some illnesses that your pediatrician can treat include:
- Colds;
- Diarrhea;
- Throat infections;
- Urinary infections;
- Asthma and bronchitis;
- Bronchiolitis;
- Pneumonia;
- Verminoses;
- Cold;
- Atopic dermatitis;
- Mycoses.
The pediatrician is also responsible for guiding babies’ breastfeeding and introduction of new foods, consumption of infant formula, evaluating growth, development and vaccinations.
The pediatrician often works together with different medical specialties and health professionals such as speech therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists, coordinating the child’s treatments.
Up to what age is it suitable?
The age that the pediatrician treats generally ranges from birth to 21 years old, so that the child’s follow-up begins at birth and extends through childhood and adolescence until adulthood.
However, there are exceptions, such as in the case of children with special needs, and in these situations the continuity of care after the age of 21 may vary from one doctor to another.
When to make an appointment
It is important to consult a pediatrician in the presence of symptoms such as:
- High fever (above 38ºC), especially in babies;
- Wheezing in the chest, tiredness in breathing or very fast breathing;
- Excessive drowsiness or difficulty staying awake and lack of desire to play;
- Little urine;
- Difficulty feeding the child;
- Diarrhea or blood in the stool;
- Vomiting with blood.
In these cases, it is important to consult a pediatrician as soon as possible because these symptoms may indicate serious illnesses, such as respiratory infections, asthma, gastroenteritis or meningitis.
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Routine consultations with the pediatrician
It is important to have a routine for taking your child to the pediatrician, because it is this monitoring that allows you to assess their growth and development, clarify doubts and guide the family regarding care at each stage.
The frequency of routine appointments with the pediatrician generally varies according to age:
Babies aged 0 to 2 years
At this age, it is important that at least one consultation takes place within the first week after birth. After this period, it is recommended that until 6 months of age the child sees the pediatrician at least once a month and then has an appointment at 9 and another at 12 months of age.
After the first year of life, consultations generally occur at 15, 18 and 24 months of age.
Children aged 2 to 4
After reaching 2 years of age, it is recommended to consult your pediatrician at least once every 6 months until the age of 4.
Children and teenagers aged 4 to 19
After the child turns 4 years old, appointments tend to occur at least once a year.
