One of the first people you call when your child is sick is your pediatrician. Pediatricians are medical practitioners who can help maintain the overall wellness of infants, adolescents, young adults, etc. That’s why it’s important for parents to choose the right pediatrician for their child. Right from minor health-related problems to serious diseases, you can consult a pediatrician to seek help for treating a wide range of childhood issues. Don’t know when to see a pediatrician and what to do? Here’s everything you need to know about what a pediatric consultation is.
What Is A Pediatric Consultation?
As a parent, you should begin to choose your child’s pediatrician while you’re still pregnant. Your child’s relationship with the pediatrician will start soon after birth. That’s when your ‘well-child visit’ consultations will begin. A well-child visit is an important part of your child’s pediatric consultation. For that, you’ll probably have to visit their clinic several times a year. So, right from birth till 5 years of age, you’ll have to book an appointment with your pediatrician for regular physical checkups along with counseling. It’s during these visits that your pediatrician will help with your child’s immunization.
A pediatric consultation helps you monitor your child’s overall development.
When you go to a pediatrician for a well-child visit, your pediatrician will monitor your child’s physical as well as emotional development. Along with that, they also help you understand your child’s eating and sleeping schedules. After your child completes 5 years of age, you can consult the pediatrician for annual checkups.
Why Are Pediatric Consultations Carried Out?
You will need to consult your pediatrician for a variety of reasons as your child continues to grow and develop. Apart from regular scheduled appointments, you’ll also visit your pediatrician when your child is unwell. That’s why you need to be aware of all possible symptoms concerning your child if you’re planning to visit a pediatrician. Do keep in mind that the more you know your child, the better it will be for the pediatrician to treat your child.
Another important thing you need to be mindful of is that health issues can differ according to age. It could also differ for different children. So, in order to give your child the necessary treatment, it’s best if you consult a pediatrician as they specialize in childhood illnesses.
Here are some reasons as to why pediatric consultations are carried out:
Child Immunization And Vaccination
One of the most common reasons for consulting a pediatrician is your child’s immunization. You can protect your child from various diseases by improving their body’s immune system. That is possible with the help of vaccinations that help your child get immune to various diseases.
Your pediatrician will recommend the necessary vaccines for your child like Hepatitis A (HepA), Hepatitis B (HepB), Influenza, Measles Mumps and Rubella Vaccine (MMR), Polio, etc. These are usually part of a vaccination schedule; India has two, the IAP schedule and the NIS schedule. Both have minor differences. As a parent, don’t forget to update your child’s vaccination records as it’ll help you keep a routine and assure you that your child has the necessary protection against harmful diseases.
Prevention And Treatment Of Various Diseases
Pediatricians not only help in the treatment of a disease but also in preventing it. That’s why it’s advisable that you take your child to a pediatrician from a young age. Whether it’s fever, a mild or severe injury, organ diseases or dysfunction, a pediatrician can help your child with all of these health-related problems. In case your child has a congenital deformity, your pediatrician will help you understand whether your child needs an excision removal or surgery. They can collaborate with other specialists to treat your child’s abnormalities and aid them in normal growth and development.
Ear Infections
One of the most common problems faced by children at a young age is ear infections. When your child shows any signs of ear pain, constantly pulling the ear, difficulty in sleeping, fever that goes beyond 100℉, they could have an ear infection. Also, if your child is showing signs of severe ear pain, or has pus or blood coming out of the ears, then you should consult your pediatrician immediately.
Monitor Your Child’s Development
It’s important that you monitor your child’s development or milestones and the best way to do this is by consulting a pediatrician. Your pediatrician will check your child’s BMI by measuring their weight and height. This can help you compare your child’s developmental progress with other children of the same age. Monitoring your child’s development will help you understand if there is any developmental delay in your child. Your pediatrician will also monitor your child’s motor skills by testing their reflexes, muscle tone, etc.
Behavioural And Psychiatric Therapy
Apart from physical health-related problems, there can be other issues that your child experiences. These could be bedwetting, learning difficulties, discipline problems, etc. It shouldn’t come to you as a surprise that a pediatrician can help your child with all these behavioral problems as well.
You can consult a developmental-behavioral pediatrician to understand whether your child has any learning disabilities like dyslexia, any feeding or sleeping problems, etc. If your child is showing signs of hyperactivity at an early age, you can talk to your pediatrician to understand if they have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). They may not always be best equipped to treat them, but pediatricians can recommend child psychologists who can help with mental health problems in children.
Nutrition Advice
In order to prevent your child from getting affected by any kind of chronic disease, you need to pay careful attention to their nutrition. If your child gets proper nutrition at an early age, it keeps them from being malnourished. Additionally, it aids their physical growth and development and makes their body immune to disease. Pediatricians can also give you guidance on how to deal with fussy eaters. You can consult your pediatrician for nutritional advice and ask them for tips on healthy meal and snack ideas that will help you in raising a smart and healthy kid.
Knowing what a pediatric consultation is will help you choose the right pediatrician for your child.
Conclusion
It’s important that you consult a pediatrician to ensure that your child is safe and healthy. One of the mistakes you can make as a new parent is overlooking your child’s health by not consulting a pediatrician. You can book an online appointment with a pediatrician while staying inside the safety of your home using our ImmunifyMe app. Our app will also help you keep a track of your child’s developmental milestones, and immunization schedules.
FAQs On What Is A Pediatric Consultation
What Is Pediatric Consultation?
A pediatric consultation is a session with a pediatrician that can help you understand and manage your child’s health-related problems. Here are some reasons pediatric consultations are carried out for:
- Child immunization
- Prevention and treatment of diseases
- Ear infections
- Monitor your child’s development
- Behavioral and psychiatric therapy
- Nutrition advice
What Does A Pediatric Consultant Do?
Depending on the kind of medical problem your child is facing, a pediatric consultant can help you. They can help treat your child by prescribing medications, surgeries, or therapy. If your child has any congenital deformity, a pediatric consultant will collaborate with other specialists. This can help in your child’s normal growth and development after a thorough diagnosis and medical evaluation.
What Is A Pediatric Visit?
A pediatric visit is a visit to a pediatrician who specializes in children’s healthcare and development. When your child is a newborn, you will have to consult a pediatrician for a well-child visit. After that, your visits to the pediatrician can be annual, to keep a track of your child’s overall development.
What’s A Well-Child Checkup?
A well-child checkup is necessary for a child from birth to 5-6 years of age. It is important in the initial years of your child as it helps you understand whether your child’s development is normal or whether it has any delays.