A pediatrician is the first “real” doctor of a newborn child. With his birth, there is a need for constant examinations and qualified timely assistance. Every mother should ensure that her baby is cared for by an experienced and highly qualified specialist.
How to choose a good doctor, what his responsibilities are, why scheduled and unscheduled examinations are needed, the need for patronage, what medical certificates are given to children for kindergarten and school, as well as the correct selection of a clinic in St. Petersburg - we will find out all these topics further.
Pediatrics
The concept of “pediatrics” is translated from Greek as “child treatment.” Doctors and healers have long understood that diseases in children and adults progress differently. But, nevertheless, for quite a long time pediatrics was part of obstetrics. Therefore, those doctors who delivered children subsequently treated newborn babies.
Pediatrics became an independent field in 1802, when the first children's hospital was built in Paris.
The question of the need to separate into an independent field of medicine was dealt with by many Russian scientists and doctors, among whom were A. N. Radishchev, M. V. Lomonosov, N. I. Novikov, I. I. Betsky, S. G. Zybelin.
The first children's hospital was built in 1834 in St. Petersburg, and the second in 1842 in Moscow. 1865 is the year of the establishment of the first department specializing in childhood diseases.
When science became an independent sphere, many narrow specializations arose in it. This is how various categories in the field of pediatrics emerged, for example preventive. They are the ones who are involved in the development and organization of certain actions and activities aimed at preventing morbidity among children.
The list of the main responsibilities of such a specialist includes the following:
- Carrying out scheduled inspections.
- Promotion of a healthy lifestyle and hardening.
- Description of the need for vaccination and examination of children before it.
- Providing information and conducting conversations about various ways and techniques for maintaining the health of young patients.
In addition, there are three main levels in the preventive direction:
- primary;
- secondary;
- tertiary.
The first option involves prevention using various vaccinations and vitamin complexes.
The second involves early diagnosis and identification of symptoms of emerging diseases. For this purpose, routine screenings, examinations and tests are carried out.
The last area deals with the prevention of the development of childhood diseases, for which certain diets and other preventive measures are prescribed.
A pediatrician working in the clinical field deals with the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in young patients.
A scientific specialist conducts innovative research and development to preserve the good health of children.
An environmental worker determines the degree of environmental impact on the condition of young organisms.
The social pediatric department specializes in approving various documentation on public health protection and medical statistics. This also includes interaction with other structures, as a result of which the maximum preservation of children’s health is observed.
Who is a pediatrician?
A doctor who specializes in pediatrics is called a pediatrician. His job responsibilities directly depend on his field of activity. A doctor working in a children's clinic carries out diagnostics, based on the results of which he treats patients.
A pediatrician is the first real doctor of a newborn child. He guides him from birth until he reaches 16 years of age. During this entire period, he monitors their development, growth and the process of the child’s body becoming an adult.
A highly qualified pediatrician must have knowledge in many areas of medicine, because when diagnosing the health status of children, he may encounter various symptoms of diseases.
Vaccinations
The activities of a pediatrician are closely related to the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations. The doctor monitors compliance with the vaccination schedule, which is especially important in the first year of life.
Before sending the baby for vaccination, the pediatrician examines him, if necessary, adjusting the vaccination schedule depending on the individual characteristics of the child.
The pediatrician informs the mother about possible reactions to the vaccine, which sometimes occur in infants, and tells what can be done in such situations.
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What does the pediatrician treat?
The most important responsibility of a pediatrician is not the treatment of diseases, but the timely diagnosis of disorders in the normal functioning of the child’s body.
After discharge from the maternity hospital, each mother is given a neonatologist’s report on the health status of the newborn baby. This extract, along with the birth history, is received by a pediatrician at the clinic. The information provided can be of great importance for conducting scheduled and unscheduled examinations, as well as in making a diagnosis.
The field of work of a pediatrician mainly includes the following:
- bacterial and viral infectious diseases;
- digestive system disorders;
- immunological problems;
- predisposition to various allergies.
The pediatrician prescribes tests and additional consultations with more specialized specialists. Sometimes a doctor encounters situations that he is not involved in treating. So, for example, if there is a suspicion of poor vision, the child is referred to an ophthalmologist, and with hearing problems, to an otolaryngologist.
Most often, the pediatrician treats acute respiratory and viral infectious diseases, children's uncomplicated allergic manifestations, chickenpox, sore throat, runny nose, cough and many other ailments.
However, the most important task of such a specialist is to carry out routine examinations and timely diagnosis of possible diseases of a small patient. If deviations in the baby’s health are identified, the pediatrician develops and draws up a further action plan aimed at eliminating or minimizing the problem.
Another quite important responsibility of a pediatrician is the care of newborns. When being discharged from the maternity hospital, the young mother is asked to give the address where the child will live. This certificate is issued for the clinic that treats patients in this area. After receiving this information, the children's doctor, accompanied by a nurse, goes to the little patient's home after a few days to conduct the first routine examination.
This procedure is extremely necessary, because a newly born baby needs special medical supervision and special care. A doctor’s visit is very important for maintaining the child’s good health and his further full development. During the visit, the pediatrician examines the fontanelle, palpates the abdomen, assesses the degree of healing of the navel, and examines the baby’s tone and various reflexes. Also, during the first examination of the newborn, the young mother is given advice on breastfeeding and caring for the baby.
Where does he receive it?
The pediatrician conducts appointments in clinics, district hospitals, children's departments, in accordance with assigned areas. If you have a policy, consultation, examination, diagnosis and treatment are free. You can find out the doctor’s schedule, sign up for a consultation, or call a doctor at home through the reception desk.
Parents have the right to choose their own pediatrician; at any time they can refuse the local pediatrician and go to a private diagnostic center or clinic. Appointments with a therapist and all other services in such institutions are paid, but you can immediately get advice from several specialists and undergo diagnostics in 1 day. The price of the initial examination is 1.2–2.6 thousand rubles.
Read also: Who is a urologist?
Important! A compulsory medical insurance policy is issued for a child 30 days after state registration.
Pediatrician appointment - First trip to the doctor
When a newborn baby turns one month old, the mother has a new responsibility. Every month she should bring the child to the clinic for a routine examination.
Most often, to see the youngest patients, the pediatrician prescribes a certain day of the week when infants do not have contact with other, possibly sick, children. This approach ensures a relatively safe visit to the clinic.
A monthly visit to the pediatrician is a necessary stage of monitoring a newborn. During such a visit, the doctor examines the child, listens to the heartbeat and breathing, checks reflexes and palpates the tummy. The mother is also asked about any complaints. The nurse weighs and measures the baby’s parameters: height, fontanel and much more. This procedure is extremely important, because constant monitoring of infant growth indicators helps to timely identify deviations in the development of the newborn. The first year of life is the most active period of development of a small person.
The first visit to a pediatrician is a rather important event that requires some preparation and the baby’s health depends on it. In order to avoid spending several hours in line outside the office, you should first make an appointment with a pediatrician. The child should be comfortable in his clothes. When choosing an outfit, take into account the fact that the doctor will examine your baby's body for any redness or rashes. His robe should be easy to take off and put on, so as to avoid delaying the doctor.
Pay attention to the temperature outside, choose not very warm clothes to prevent the child from overheating. You can also take wipes, a diaper and your favorite toy. If your visit to the clinic coincides with feeding time, take formula (for artificial feeding) with you.
Consider what you will use to transport your child. The stroller is convenient for moving on the street, but at the clinic you will have to leave it in a specially designated place. Next, the choice is yours: carry the baby in your arms or use a cradle.
Before visiting a pediatrician, a young mother should make a list of questions of interest and think about what worries her about the baby’s health.
Breastfeeding or baby food
Many women who want to use artificial feeding want to know what pediatricians think and say about infant formula ? The opinion of experts is clear. Breastfeeding is the best solution if the mother is in good health and has no contraindications or bad habits.
Why doctors recommend breast milk:
- better immunity. Antibodies in the mother’s body protect the child from diseases that she has already had;
- normal growth;
- minimal risk of gaining excess weight. It is almost impossible to overfeed a baby with breast milk;
- the baby burps less because less air enters the stomach;
- the risk of rickets is reduced;
- restoration of mother's health. The likelihood of developing breast cancer is minimized. Oxytocin produced during breastfeeding restores the previous state of the uterus. Accelerated metabolism makes it easier to return to your previous figure;
- breast milk is sterile. This is more convenient than artificial feeding.
The disadvantages of artificial feeding include certain discomfort (spontaneous milk release, constant need to be near the baby) and difficulties in determining the amount of food eaten.
Routine examination by a pediatrician
The list of job responsibilities of a pediatrician includes conducting routine examinations of young patients to prevent disturbances in the functioning of their bodies. The greatest attention should be paid to infants who are less than one year old and come to see their mother every month.
The list of scheduled visits also includes vaccinations, which are given not only to newborns, but also to older children. When your child attends school, he can receive vaccinations along with other children. The administration agrees on a certain day with the doctor and they are all taken to the clinic, or, alternatively, the specialist himself comes to the educational institution.
Basically, a routine examination involves measuring the child’s parameters: height and weight, as well as listening to the heart and lungs, examining the condition of the skin for any rashes and redness, and checking reflexes. The pediatrician will study the patient’s medical history, listen to complaints and make certain recommendations.
Unscheduled inspection
Children's immunity cannot always fight various viruses and infections, so babies get sick quite often. If the child’s condition does not require emergency medical care, then he will be examined by a pediatrician at the clinic. The doctor will listen to complaints, examine the little patient and determine the next steps. When additional tests are not needed to make a diagnosis, the specialist draws up a treatment plan. If they are still necessary, then a treatment regimen is developed after receiving the results.
Sometimes a child’s illness does not relate to the doctor’s specialization, then a referral is made to another more specialized doctor, for example, a surgeon, ophthalmologist or otolaryngologist.
The following symptoms require a visit to a pediatrician:
- elevated temperature;
- runny nose;
- cough;
- digestive system disorders and abdominal pain;
- joint pain;
- active reaction to vaccination;
- symptoms of an infectious disease;
- pain during urination;
- reaction disturbances.
A pediatrician can examine patients not only in the clinic, but also at home. If the baby’s symptoms are very acute, it is better to call a specialist after calling the hospital reception.
Medical certificates for kindergarten and school
The children's doctor's list of planned procedures also includes examinations of children entering kindergarten or school. When contacting, the doctor gives referrals to specialists and prescribes tests. After receiving their results and having an extract from all the specified doctors, the pediatrician writes a conclusion and draws up a medical certificate of form 086-U. This document confirms the fact that the child is allowed to attend the educational institution.
Specialties, universities and Unified State Exam subjects
How to become a pediatrician? To do this you need:
- graduate from secondary school;
- enroll in a medical school at the Faculty of Pediatrics or General Medicine;
- undergo postgraduate training - residency.
To enroll in the first year, you must successfully pass the following Unified State Exam subjects:
- chemistry;
- biology;
- Russian language.
You can enroll after school (11th grade) or on the basis of secondary vocational education in a medical field - for example, having received a diploma in the specialty “general medicine”. However, all applicants are enrolled in only 1 year.
Specialty code “Pediatrics” according to OKSO (All-Russian Classifier) 3.31.05.02. Duration of education:
- Medical school, qualification “doctor” – 6 years.
- Residency in pediatrics (code 08/31/19) – 2 years.
This scheme is still relevant today, but there are innovations.
A pediatrician (that is, a graduate of a medical university who has graduated from a faculty of the relevant profile) can immediately work in a clinic area.
This is allowed if the accreditation program (special subject exam) has been passed. Previously, even for advisory employment in an outpatient clinic, postgraduate education was required - an internship (now abolished). Today the process has been simplified, but in order to go beyond the clinic and get a job, for example, in a hospital or become a specialized doctor, you still need a residency.
There is also the possibility of obtaining specializations:
- Cardiology.
- Nephrology.
- Pediatric surgery.
- Ultrasound diagnostics.
- Neonatology.
- Rheumatology.
- Pediatric urology.
- Allergology and immunology.
- Anesthesiology and resuscitation.
- Clinical laboratory diagnostics.
- Neurology.
- Radiology.
- Genetics.
- Pulmonology.
- Hygiene of children and adolescents.
- Functional diagnostics.
With a diploma in pediatrics after training in a residency program or additional professional education, you can also work in the following profiles:
- Gynecologist.
- Infectious disease specialist.
- Gastroenterologist.
- Oncologist.
- Doctor of physical therapy (physical therapy).
- Endocrinologist.
- Ophthalmologist.
- Otolaryngologist (ENT).
- Traumatologist-orthopedist.
- Physiotherapist.
- Psychiatrist.
- Dermatologist.
Additionally, after receiving their diploma, pediatricians study from several months to 2 years. Some specialties have their own branches, and there are examples when surgeons also became endoscopists (this is the diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment of diseases using manipulations in the lumen of body cavities with flexible optical probes), and exercise therapy doctors became rehabilitation therapists or sports doctors.
How to choose a doctor
Selecting a good doctor is a rather responsible and important task. Not only the good health of the child depends on the level of training and professionalism of the doctor; sometimes life depends on its timely diagnosis. When selecting a specialist, qualifications are a very important factor. The pediatrician must have appropriate education and, preferably, extensive work experience. Extensive practice is quite a serious indicator, but sometimes this is not always good. A doctor who has been working in this field for a long time may have an outdated approach to treatment, without the use of modern innovations in diagnostics and therapy.
Choosing a good pediatrician is quite difficult. It happens that only a professional can adequately assess the level of training. There are incidents when the realization of a wrong choice comes too late, when the doctor’s mistake has already occurred. Therefore, you should pay attention to reviews about the specialist from the same parents, although this is also a rather subjective opinion.
If you don’t know what is better to choose: a public or private clinic, then it is better to choose the latter option. There you will find modern equipment and good service. Regarding the qualifications of a pediatrician, this is, of course, a controversial point. Some private hospitals employ very highly qualified specialists, while others employ doctors of various categories.
Place of work
Employers are actively posting vacancies for pediatricians, because these specialists are in very high demand. They are needed in public clinics and hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private clinics, and ambulance stations. Pediatricians are often recruited to work in institutions where children are temporarily or permanently kept: specialized children's homes, boarding schools and forest schools, summer camps and others. These doctors can provide consultations remotely, conduct private consultations, or open their own clinic after receiving the necessary license.
