Clinical Pediatrics 2019

Critical care pediatrics usually involves constant observation and attention with special care by a team of specially trained pediatricians. Usually Critical care takes place in Intensive Care Unit. Few conditions which may cause during critical condition are severe asthma, severe infection such as pneumonia and serious injuries from accidents. Critically ill children need careful monitoring with special medicine or treatment which can be maintained only in PICU- Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit. Having advanced facilities in place is important to save a life during critical conditions. Emergency medicine is the basic medical facility concerned with the immediate medical attention. This field prepares pediatricians with knowledge and skills required to care patients with emergency healthcare needs.

Neonatology is one of the subspecialties of pediatrics which deals with the medical care of sick or premature new born babes. Other few conditions are low birth weight, birth defects, growth restrictions, sepsis, and birth asphyxia. Neonatology can be practiced only in Neonatology Intensive Care Units. Neonatology is mostly practiced in United States. Specialists of Neonatology  are highly affiliated and skilled and have all the eligibilities as given by the Certified Board.

Pediatric Oncology/Haematology deals with the treating children and teens who suffer with blood diseases or cancer. Pediatric haematology or oncology usually deals with the conditions like cancers including leukemia, neuroblastoma, brain tumors, solid and bone tumors. Pediatric Hematologist or Oncologist has all the qualification and experience to treat children from birth to young adulthood. Blood cell diseases such as disorders of white cells, red blood cells, platelets. Including anemia, sickle cell disease and bleeding disorders. Many oncology specialists are also equally specialized in hematology.

Pediatrics surgery is the subspecialty of surgery which involves the surgery of fetus, infants and children. Many medical conditions in new born babies are unsuitable with good quality life unless they are treated surgically. Problems occur during surgery in children are quite different from the adult or general surgeries due to the reason that children are unlike adults, they cannot say what is bothering them. Pediatric surgeons can treat children from new born to early adulthood.  Deformities of groin such as hydrocele, undescended testes, hernia, surgical care of tumors (cancer), endoscopic procedures, procedure of transplantations, serious injuries which require surgeries etc. are included in Pediatric surgeries pediatric oncology, neonatal surgery, pediatric urology are the three subspecialties of pediatric surgery.

Pediatric cardiology is the branch of pediatrics which involves diagnosing and treating heart problems in children. Several conditions such as structural differences during birth, electrical system which controls the heartbeat, valve problems, abnormal blood vessels, are included in the term heart problems. Heart problems in children can be complex at times and can occur with many other complications.

Pediatric Neurology is a functional branch in medical field dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to neurology in Neonates (newborns), children, infants to adolescents. The topic Pediatric Neurology includes all diseases and disorders related to spinal cord, peripheral system, brain, autonomic nervous system, muscles and blood vessels which affect individuals of small age groups. Various types of conditions to be dealt in pediatric neurology are genetic diseases related to nervous system, childhood epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, hyper activity disorder, cerebral palsy, febrile seizures, autism spectrum disorders, migraine, sleep disorders, head injuries, intellectual disability etc. following studies are required to diagnose the neurological conditions: nerve conduction study, EEG, EMG, multiple sleep latency testing, electro cortical mapping etc.

Pediatric Endocrinology is concerned about the disorders related to the dysfunction of hormones and glands which results in problems of diabetes, puberty and growth. Endocrine glands, such as pituitary gland releases hormones into the bloodstream which decides how a child grows and mature. Pediatric endocrinology mainly deals with hormone disorders at all stages of childhood. Hormones exhibit significant effects or changes on child’s physical activity, emotional state of well-being and development of sexuality. Other few conditions are diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, amenorrhea, growth concerns, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, turner syndrome, gender dysphoria, thyroid disorders etc. juvenile diabetes in children is also known as type 1 diabetes in which the insulin hormone production stops in child’s body.

This specially designed branch of pediatrics basically concerns about the children suffering with infectious, immunological and allergic disorders and deals with acute and chronic outburst of diseases. These infections are basically interlinked to the immune system. If the child is found of suffering from allergies, his/her immune system reacts against to things which are even harmless. Few examples of such symptoms are sinusitis, thrush, abscesses and pneumonia which revert again. General treatment is provided for the following conditions such as asthma, hay fever, hives, vocal cord dysfunction, recurrent infection, eczema, atopic dermatitis, chronic cough, severe reactions to insects, foods and medications etc.

Pediatric Dentistry is about the oral strength of kids from outset to early adulthood. The term oral health includes health conditions of teeth, gums, mouth throughout several stages of childhood. If early dental problems are not cured instantly, they may cause lifetime pain and other complications. Services provided by pediatric dentist include fluoride treatment, space maintainers’ athletic mouth guards, and fillings. There is chance that infected baby teeth can damage children adult teeth developing below them. Decay free primary teeth are very crucial to create a healthy environment for child’s permanent teeth which reduces the chance of tooth decay.

Pediatric diagnosis involves a pedagogy which includes examining every aspect of illness in child’s body. Screening should be conducted at first and then proceed to diagnose child’s health.

Pediatrics health care can be described as accessible, first contact, continuous and coordinated to meet the health needs of a child. Pediatric health care encompasses anticipatory guidance, healthy supervision, monitoring physical growth and development, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic disorders, managing serious and life-threatening illness and management of health problems requiring multiple health services.

Pediatric nursing is the clinical health care of neonates and children up to the stage of adolescence. The role of pediatric nurse is to conduct procedures and providing medicines according to the prescribed nursing care plans and assessing them continuously. Neonatal nursing is a branch of health care which mainly focuses on nursing newly born babies who were born prematurely, with defects, infections, deformities etc. Pediatric emergency nursing is a branch of pediatric nursing which has fast mobility and quick response in emergency situations such as stabilizing patients with focused care, quickly diagnosing conditions and coming up with on-spot solutions, providing right medicines at the right time.

During the raising years of children from just born stage (infancy) to early stage of adolescence, proper nutrition is mandatory for a child’s future health. Children’s diet will not only supposed to support their growth and development but also supports their immune system and several other health supporting systems. It is the most important care to provide the child with a consistent diet with all kinds of nutritional components in it. In pediatric nutrition the most essential and important theme is breastfeeding because most of the nutrients are provided to child through breastfeeding. Especially in the first six months after birth Babies should be fed breast milk which is the only way to induce nutrients in such stage to achieve optimal growth, development, and health. Breastfeeding usually protects babies from allergies, obesity, Crohn's disease, infections, and diabetes. Breast milk consists of large amounts of lactose content which provides an energy source, vitamin E which prevents anemia, cholesterol important for brain growth and omega acids.

It is usual for children to have disorders related to urinary tract such as kidney, ureters, urethra and bladder. These problems can be negligible or serious. In case of serious condition, then one should see a specialist in nephrology and urology. Few conditions of nephrology and urology to be diagnosed are abnormal conditions in acid base disorders, urine, hypertension, bedwetting, high blood pressure, acute and chronic kidney failure, cancer of urinary and genital systems, bladder exstrophy, renal insufficiency, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections inherited kidney diseases torsion of the testicles, and neurogenic bowel. It can also provide pediatric patients with end stage kidney disorders and follow up care after kidney transplantation.

The concern and research in pediatric pharmacology has risen above the line in last two decades but is still limited to pharmacokinetics. Pediatric pharmacology has been the multi-disciplinary topic which concerns about the effective and safe use of medications in neonates and infants. Pediatric pharmacology mostly focuses on the drug mechanism of action, its effect on body, drug-drug interaction and its side effects. 

Pediatric radiology is a discipline of diagnostic radiology focused on children, from new born babies to early adulthood. Pediatric radiology employs a wide range of techniques such as X-Rays, Ultra sound, CT, MRI, Nuclear medicine. Pediatric radiology is also involved in imaging fetuses. A common pediatric pathologic condition which requires imaging is leukemia, teratoma, congenital abnormalities, meningitis, wilm’s tumor, osteosarcoma, juvenile arthritis and infant respiratory distress syndrome. It is the utmost sensitive field due to the reason that children’s body react unlike adult’s body while imaging but these days special imaging equipment has come into existence which are compatible for infants.

Pediatric dermatology is mostly concerned about disorders related to skin or conditions such as eczema, warts, hemangiomas, cutaneous lesihmaniasis, cutaneous melanoma, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hives, vitiligo, genetic skin disorders, and ringworm and skin cancer. It also includes some minor surgical procedures such as surgical removal of skin lesions, skin biopsies and laser treatment of vascular birthmarks. Many childhood disorders such as infantile hemangiomas blood vessel growths are not seen in adults and common conditions such as psoriasis have unique symptoms in children unlike adults.

Pediatric otolaryngology is the branch of pediatrics which is mainly concerned about complex medical treatment for problems or illness affecting the ear, nose or throat. It also involves diagnosis and treating of head and neck diseases. Few conditions which are included in pediatric otolaryngology are chronic tonsillitis, benign and malignant growths of head and neck, laryngomalacia, pediatric sinus surgery, tumors of ears aero digestive, cochlear implant, cleft and craniofacial, children thyroid disorder, ear canal atresia, sleep disorders, vascular anomalies, vocal cord dysfunction, voice and swallowing disorders etc.