Pediatricians Facts

A pediatrician is a doctor that cares for the health of newborns,

infants, children, and adolescents up to the age of 18. Some
pediatricians care for young adults until the age of 21, depending
on the country, and others until the young adult has completed
secondary education. The word pediatrician is derived from two
Greek words meaning 'healer of children'. Some pediatricians work
in hospitals while others work in private practice as primary care
physicians. Pediatrics dates back to ancient times, when it was
already understood that children required different health care than
grown adults. A Swedish doctor Nils Rosen von Rosenstein
however is considered to be the founder of this field as a specialty,
thanks to writing "the first modern textbook" in this area of
medicine, published in 1764.

Interesting Pediatricians Facts:

Prior to the first textbook on pediatrics being published in 1764, there were other
books published on the subject including Little Book on Children Diseases and
Treatment (1472), Ein Regiment der Jungerkinder (1473), and two others that make
up Pediatric Incunabula (four texts on pediatrics).

The first pediatric hospital opened in Paris, France, in 1802. Hospitals also began to
add pediatric wings to already existing hospitals, including Charite in Berlin, Sankt
Petersburg in 1834, and Britain's Hospital for Sick Children in 1852.

In order to become a pediatrician today, a student must complete 4 years at

university or college, 4 years at medical school, 1 year internship, and 2 year
residency, followed by board certification. It's an 11 year process following high
school graduation.

Pediatricians are responsible for a variety of procedures including examinations,

taking the medical history of patients, performing diagnostic testing, referring their
patients to specialists when necessary, interpreting test results, diagnosing illness
and prescribing treatments, and dealing with emergencies such as broken bones or
sudden illnesses.

Pediatricians can become specialists in a particular field of medicine as well,

including neurology, allergy and immunology, cardiology, emergency medicine,
endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious diseases, critical care,
oncology, surgery, and many others.

Some pediatricians specialize in child abuse, developmental and behavioral

pediatrics, and social pediatrics.

Most pediatricians care for their patients until they no longer need parental consent,
however some will continue until a child reaches the age of 21.

It is possible to choose a pediatrician before a child is born or adopted.

Most pediatricians in the United States earn, on average, $81 an hour, but in some
states this is higher. Iowa and Nebraska have higher average salaries.

Most pediatricians work to prevent illnesses and diseases whenever possible. They
encourage regular check-ups to identify any issues, and support healthy choices.

Pediatricians track a child's physical and developmental growth from the time they
are born, which helps to identify problems as soon as they arise in most cases.

There are many hospitals around the world dedicated to pediatric medicine. Some of
these include Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, inspired by London's Hospital for
Sick Children.

The largest hospital and research facility in pediatrics is Boston Children's Hospital.
Toronto's pediatric hospital is the second largest.