Paediatric

Paediatrics, often spelled pediatric in North America, is the branch of medicine devoted to the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents up to early adulthood. The exact upper age limit varies by country, typically 18 years and sometimes older for those with chronic conditions or in certain settings.

Paediatric care encompasses preventive health, growth and development monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and management of social and environmental factors affecting child health. Core activities include well-child visits, vaccinations, screening tests, management of acute illnesses (infections, injuries), chronic disease management (asthma, diabetes, congenital conditions), and coordination with schools and families. Paediatric subspecialties include neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric oncology, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric neurology, and many others.

Most paediatricians work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, or community settings, often collaborating with families, nurses, and allied health professionals to provide family-centered care. In many systems, paediatrics emphasizes prevention, early life health, safety promotion, and nutrition, with attention to growth, development, and psychosocial well-being.

History and terminology: the field emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries with pioneers such as Abraham Jacobi, who is often considered the father of modern paediatrics. The term paediatrics derives from Greek pais (child) and iatreia (treatment); pediatrics is the American spelling.

Training: physicians specializing in paediatrics complete medical school, followed by residency in paediatrics; duration and structure vary by country. Subspecialty training (fellowships) follows residency for further specialization.