One of the most important things that you need to do to prepare for your little one’s arrival is choosing someone to take care of their health. Choose a paediatrician you can trust to take your child’s health from nappies to adulthood.
How can a paediatrician help you?
Paediatrics is the branch of medicine that specialises in the medical care of infants, children and adolescents: generally from birth up to 18 years of age.
This is why it is very important for you to choose the right paediatrician for your child at an early age, because they will accompany and guide your baby from that first sneeze to adulthood. We, at MeditSimple, are here to help you learn everything there is to know about this doctor.
A paediatrician, is a child’s physician who can provide both preventive measures for healthy children, as well as medical care and assistance for those who are acutely or chronically ill.
Your paediatrician will see your child regularly from birth to the age of two, then annually from two to five for “well-child visits”, as well as visits if your child contracts a disease or anything that you as a parent deem worrying. After the age of five, your paediatrician will likely continue to see your child every year for annual check-ups. Remember that they will be the first person to call whenever your child is unwell.
As a child caretaker, the paediatrician’s general role is to:
- Reduce infant and child mortality
- Control infectious disease
- Encourage healthy lifestyles
- Ease the troubles children or adolescents with chronic conditions may encounter
To do so he will:
- Perform physical exams
- Give your child recommended immunizations
- Make sure your child’s growth, behaviour and skills are within their age group
- Diagnose and treat your child’s illnesses, injuries, infections, or any other health problems
- Provide information about your child’s health, nutrition, educational and fitness needs
- Answer any questions you may have about your child’s growth and development
What is his background?
A paediatrician’s training varies considerably depending on what country they choose to study in. In the UK, the training is divided into three levels:
- Level 1 (ST1-3) – It lasts two to three years and provides them with a basic knowledge of paediatrics and general child health.
- Level 2 (ST 4-5) – It lasts one to two years and the training provided mainly takes place in district general hospitals (DGHs). There, the importance of outpatient presentations is emphasized and the level of expected performance is higher.
- Level 3 (ST6-8) – It lasts two to three years and at that stage, the students either choose to stay in general paediatrics training, or apply for one of the 17 sub-specialities.
Indeed, although most paediatricians provide only the primary general care for their patients, many others choose to continue their education in paediatric sub-specialities such as:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology or Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatal or Perinatal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Pulmonology
- Rheumatology
As such, it is important that you need to know exactly what your paediatrician is qualified for.
When should you consult a paediatrician?
The most common illnesses aren’t all an emergency. A fever, sore throat or minor diarrhoea usually come and go in the course of a few days. However, it isn’t always clear when some minor symptoms can be the sign of something more serious.
If you’re worried, call your child’s paediatrician. They will be ready and willing to answer your questions and to ask questions in return, in order to establish the severity of your child’s condition and decide if a consultation is necessary.
Once again, it is recommended to consult a personal paediatrician, that will constantly follow your child in their early years, rather than a general doctor, because of their knowledge of your child’s health.
What do you need to know before a visit?
If this is your baby’s first appointment with a paediatrician, then you should expect the visit to take about half an hour, but this can vary as you will have to fill out paperwork. These are a few things that are good to remember before your visit:
- You should certainly remember to bring yourself and your
baby, and might find it a good idea to bring someone else with you to help you take care of your little one during the session;
- Since the doctor will want to examine your baby, dress them in simple clothing or a comfortable blanket, so you can dress and undress them quickly;
- Remember to bring a change of clothes, extra nappies, as well as anything you might need for feeding or for caring for your baby;
- Don’t forget your paperwork: insurance card, records of anything that concerns you and your baby, hospital paperwork (basic information about your child’s discharge weight and records if there was any complications during pregnancy or birth) and your medical paperwork (medical history, medicine taken during pregnancy and any other medical issues);
- Allow a good amount of time, because you can never know before hand if your paediatrician will be running late or not and if your session will last longer than expected.
Looking for the best Paediatric Hospital in London?
- The Great Ormond Street Hospital (WC1N 3JH)
- The Evelina Children’s Hospital (SE1 7EH)
- The University Hospital Lewisham (SE13 6LH)
- The St. Mary’s Hospital (W2 1NY)
- The Portland Hospital for Women and Children (W1W 5AH)