Introduction
Parenthood is the most fulfilling yet worrisome period in one’s life. Parents want the best care for their children the moment they are born. But what does a paediatrician do?
A paediatrician is a medical doctor who treats kids for their physical, behavioural, and emotional well-being from birth until age 18, diagnoses and treats various acute and chronic illnesses, and preventive care and works to reduce infant mortality rates and also prevents the spread of infectious diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle in kids.
Let us understand the job of the best paediatrician in Vizag and know what paediatricians do in this article.
Growth and development
Paediatricians monitor the growth and development of the child and provide support to achieve their milestones. Children not achieving their milestones may indicate developmental issues or other underlying illnesses. If the child is premature, there can be a delay in achieving milestones.
Along with checking the height, weight, length and head circumference, the paediatrician monitors the child’s response to sounds, colour and the ability to imitate words. Developmental paediatrics identifies and helps the child with learning disabilities, ADHD(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), language and speech problems, socialising problems and autism. A team of speech therapists, normal paediatricians, ENT specialists, physiotherapists, and child psychologists all work together to help the child to improve.
Foetal origins of adult disease
The foetal origins of adult disease (FOAD) is a concept which states that events during early development stages directly affect the child’s risk of future adult disease. Low birth weight due to poor foetal growth and nutrition causes coronary artery disease, hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance.
Babies with nutritional and non-nutritional stress during different stages of their development are prone to adult diseases. If paediatricians can treat and implement preventive measures, it may be beneficial in controlling adult diseases in the future.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder which damages blood vessels and nerves and harms the eyes, kidneys, and heart. The symptoms are extreme hunger, weight loss, loss of appetite, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, weakness and so on.
The paediatrician will check the family’s medical history and order a fasting blood sugar test or a random blood sugar test to determine if the child has Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Insulin injection or pump prescribed by the paediatrician will help the child to manage the disease. They will advise on the correct diet plan and exercise and also check the blood and urine.
Newborn care
When a newborn needs specialist care, the paediatrician shifts the baby to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) without delay. Queen’s hospital NICU has all the modern equipment like ventilators, incubators, cardio scope monitors, CPAP machines, and phototherapy machines to meet the needs of the tiniest and the sickest newborn. Skilled doctors treat premature babies with respiratory and cardiac problems, congenital anomalies, surgical emergencies etc.
Autism spectrum disorders
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects the child’s interaction with others, communication, learning, and behaviour. It is a “developmental disorder”, as the child is diagnosed in the first two years and a “spectrum disorder”, as the type and severity of symptoms experienced would differ in each.
The paediatrician can screen the child for ASD, as treatments and therapies can improve the symptoms and daily functioning. Parents insist on screening if the child has a sibling with ASD, has older parents, has certain genetic conditions such as Down syndrome or Fragile X syndrome, and has a less birth weight. Early detection will help to provide supportive treatments and therapies to help the child improve.
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Nutrition and celiac disease
Celiac disease develops when the infant has gluten-containing foods after 6-9 months. Children will experience symptoms within minutes to hours after consuming gluten. Excessive gas, abdominal pain, constipation, weight loss, vomiting etc., can be observed in kids as symptoms.
Breast milk is naturally gluten-free, also all infant milk formulas. Therefore, paediatricians will advise on how to include solid foods gradually. Apart from eliminating foods that contain gluten from the diet, Paediatricians will prescribe supplements, recommend vaccinations or review the symptoms annually and check the height and weight to ensure proper growth and nutrition.
Diagnosis and early intervention for genetic and congenital conditions
Developmental screening and early intervention programmes have proven their benefits in pre-term infants and other healthy babies. Early detection of genetic and congenital conditions leads to interventions to prevent the onset of symptoms and decrease disease severity.
Families of children with a diagnosed condition have reported a more positive experience with early intervention services than their counterparts. Several tests like-newborn screening, carrier testing, prenatal diagnosis, diagnostic/prognostic testing, predictive/pre-dispositional tests etc., determine the risk of genetic disorders.
Disabilities such as cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects the child’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. They may also have problems with vision, speech, hearing, intellect, spine or joints etc.
Paediatricians can diagnose it early by checking the delay in reaching movement milestones such as rolling over, sitting, standing or walking. They can also do developmental monitoring, screening, medical evaluation, treatments, medicines, surgery, braces, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Asthma and allergies
In childhood asthma, the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when exposed to triggers or allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen, smoke or mould. Treating the symptoms can control and prevent damage to the growing lungs.
Constant coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness require consultation with a paediatrician, an allergist, or a pulmonologist. They will form an action plan regarding the medicine intake, frequency of administration and emergencies. They will also introduce methods of using nebulisers, inhalers and chewable pills that are kid friendly.
Common childhood bacterial infections
Children visit their paediatricians with upper respiratory tract infections, ear infections, sinusitis, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, bacterial pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and gastroenteritis. Change in the climate and acquired infection from other kids are its causes. Suitable antibiotic therapy by paediatricians will decrease the symptoms in kids.
Conclusion
What paediatricians do is very important for the upbringing of a healthy child. Consult the best paediatrician in Vizianagaram in Queens NRI hospital. Highly qualified paediatric specialists work with paediatric and neonatal ventilators, monitors, and phototherapy equipment, with radiological, laboratory, and surgical OT forms, making it a haven for your child.