A pediatrician is the type of doctor who is an expert at working and caring for infants, adolescents, and young adults. A pediatrician will typically care for a child up until the age of 18, but sometimes they can continue to see you up to 21 years old if insurance allows. They are responsible for the general care of younger people, so their services usually include checkups, physicals, mental health evaluations, vaccinations, medication prescriptions, and diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
Read on to learn more about pediatricians.
How Often Should Your Child See Their Pediatrician?
It is recommended that your child see their pediatrician 7 times for check-ups between the ages of 1 and 4. After your child hits 4 years old, the check-ups will become annual. However, it is always important to report any irregularities you see from your child to their pediatrician as soon as possible.
Why Are Check-ups Important?
Your child's early years are crucial to their health. The sooner their pediatrician can catch any health-related problems, the better. Check-ups can also be the time that their pediatricians administer any shots or vaccines.
Types of Pediatricians
There are many different types of pediatricians. Your general pediatrician may refer you to a different type of pediatrician if they diagnose or suspect something that they are not an expert in. Some of the different pediatrician types include:
1. Critical Care Pediatrician: A critical care pediatrician will generally be in charge of caring for your child if they are in an unstable situation. These pediatricians will most likely be working in the intensive care unit (ICU).
2. Pediatric Oncologist: Just like adults, children have specialized doctors when they are diagnosed with cancer. Their oncologist will be an expert in childhood cancer.
3. Pediatric Cardiologists: If your child has a heart condition or suspected heart condition, you may be referred to a pediatric cardiologist as they are experts when it comes to anything heart-related.
4. Pediatric Neurologist: If your child is diagnosed with a neurological disorder, a pediatric neurologist is a doctor you will see. They are experts when it comes to the brain. Once diagnosed with a neurologic disorder, they may decide to oversee your child's care until they age out of pediatric care.
The only time your child would need to see a pediatrician who specializes in a certain type of care would be if they are having issues in that pediatrician's field of expertise. You and your child can report to their general pediatrician unless they refer you to a specialist.
Share30 April 2021
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