The Life Plus Hospital

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 18. The word “pediatrics” means “healer of children”; they are derived from two Greek words: (pais = child) and (iatros = doctor or healer). Pediatrics is a relatively new medical specialty, developing only in the mid-19th century. Abraham Jacobi (1830–1919) is known as the father of pediatrics.

What does a pediatrician do?

A pediatrician is a child’s physician who provides not only medical care for children who are acutely or chronically ill but also preventive health services for healthy children. A pediatrician manages the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the children under their care at every stage of development, in both sickness and health.

Aims of pediatrics

The aims of the study of pediatrics is to reduce infant and child rate of deaths, control the spread of infectious disease, promote healthy lifestyles for long disease-free life and help ease the problems of children and adolescents with chronic conditions.

Pediatricians diagnose and treat several conditions among children including:-

• injuries
• infections
• genetic and congenital conditions
• cancers
• organ diseases and dysfunctions

Pediatrics is concerned not only about immediate management of the ill child but also long term effects on quality of life, disability and survival. Pediatricians are involved with the prevention, early detection, and management of problems including:-

• developmental delays and disorders
• behavioral problems
• functional disabilities
• social stresses
• mental disorders including depression and anxiety disorders