An adult human body has many different systems that need attention at any given time. With many different specialties to cater to the issues of a full-grown adult, you may assume that the same doctors can treat the body of a child, but that is not necessarily so. A child needs a different level of care, which is why doctors involved in pediatrics have additional specialization in this area. Catering to the care of a child is quite different to that of an adult.
Specialized Care for the Body of a Child
A child’s size is a large contributor to the need for pediatric care. While adults have bigger body systems, a child’s size makes each incision and dosage more significant. The difference in size means that you have to give smaller amounts of medication, since the body metabolizes medicine more quickly through less surface area. If you try to give a child the same dose as an adult, you put the child at risk for severe side effects, which can potentially lead to death. Someone who specializes in pediatric care understands the need to customize medicine to meet the needs of a child’s body.
Recognizes the Differences Between Problems
Children often communicate their problems differently than adults. For instance, while an adult can tolerate a heartburn, the same pain can feel excruciating to a child who may express their pain in tantrums and emotional outbursts. Since children are much more fragile and susceptible to pathogenic exposure or chemical and environmental toxins, it is important to bring them to a specialist who is very knowledgeable on how a child’s body reacts to such things and how to resolve issues afflicting a child’s health. A pediatrician is typically very comfortable with children and can interact quite well with them; a skill that allows the pediatrician to obtain the necessary information to be able to articulate the problem, diagnosis, and treatment more clearly.
Treats in Current Stage of Maturation
Children’s maturation varies across the 18 years before they blossom to adulthood. A pediatrician understands the differences in these life changes, which means they can treat each age group specifically. For example, a pediatrician may treat abdominal pain for a toddler differently from a girl who is beginning puberty. By making the changes needed to accommodate their particular stage of life, a pediatrician can modify the care to the child.
When to See a Pediatrician
Most parents begin taking their child to the doctor from the time they are born. During the course of the first four years, your doctor will schedule each of their vaccinations accordingly, as they chart their developmental progress. If you notice that your child is experiencing a new sickness or is not meeting the developmental milestones on time, scheduling an appointment with your pediatrician can help you determine the underlying issues.
