Pediatrics is the branch of medicine concerned with the health of children. A pediatrician treats diseases in children and ensures their physical, emotional, and social development from birth through young adulthood. Key differences between children and adults include higher metabolic rates in children, thinner skin, and more rapidly dividing cells making children more susceptible to illness, infection, and environmental factors.

1. Pediatrics
{ The branch of medicine dealing with children
and their diseases.
By: Rabia Mohamed Ali

2. Nature of Work
 A pediatrician is concerned with the
physical, emotional, and social health of
children from birth to young adulthood.
Care encompasses a broad spectrum of
health services ranging from preventive
health care to the diagnosis and
treatment of acute and chronic diseases.
The pediatrician deals with
biological, social, and environmental
influences on the developing child, and
with the impact of disease and
dysfunction on development.

3. Anatomical/Physiological Differences
between Children and Adults
• Larger BSA- Children have a
proportionately larger body • As a result, children are
surface area (BSA) than adults do. more susceptible to the
The smaller the patient, the effects of radiation than
greater the ratio of surface area adults.
(skin) to size. • Higher HR and RR-
• Thinner skin- Children have Children have higher
thinner skin than adults. Their respiratory rates than
epidermis is thinner and under- adults. Higher respirator
keratinized, compared with rates lead to
adults. proportionately higher
minute volumes.
• Rapidly dividing cells- Children's
cells divide more rapidly than • Immature blood brain
adults to assist in their rapid rate barrier- Children have
of growth immature blood-brain
barriers and enhanced
• Higher metabolic rate- More central nervous system
susceptible to contaminants in (CNS) receptivity.
food or water; greater risk for
increased loss of water and when • Immature immune
ill or stressed. Medication doses systems- Greater risk of
must be carefully calculated based infection; less hard
on the child's weight and body immunity from some
size. infections.

4. Common Childhood Diseases
Chickenpox: Whooping Cough:
Red, quite itchy, spots or bacterial infection affecting the
blisters are typically scattered respiratory system, caused by
over the entire body, spreading the bacterium Bordetella
Hand, foot and mouth disease:
to the arms, legs and face. pertussis.
This condition can be due to a
number of different enter
viruses, causing the child to
develop a large number of small
spots and blisters, particularly
in the mouth and on the feet and
hands. The disease can cause a Three-day-fever (roseola
fever of up to 39ºC for a few infantum):A child with three day
'Fifth' disease (erythema days. fever has high fever for three
infectiosum): days. The fever then drops and
The condition is due to infection the child develops a rash
with Parvovirus B19. The child consisting of pale, reddish
will sometimes initially develop spots, perhaps with small heads.
mild flu-like symptoms. It affects the body and spreads to
All will eventually have red the arms and legs, lasting for
specks, firstly on the cheeks, and about 12-14 hours. Then its over.
later spreading to involve the It is mostly seen in children
arms, thighs and buttocks. under the age of three years.

5. Statistics for Children with Asthma
 Asthma is one of the most common chronic
disorders in childhood, currently affecting an
estimated 7.1 million children under 18 years; of
which 4.1 million suffered from an asthma
attack or episode in 2011.
 Asthma is the third leading cause of
hospitalization among children under the age of
15.
 Asthma is one of the leading causes of school
absences.
 In 2009, there were approximately 774,000
emergency room visits were due to asthma in
those under 15.
 An estimated 400,000 to one million children

6. Indication of Normal Growth Rate
 A child's growth and development can  Between ages 2 - 10 years, a child will
be divided into four periods: continue to grow at a steady pace. A final
 Infancy growth spurt begins at the start of
 Preschool years puberty, sometime between ages 9 and
15.
 Middle childhood years
 Generally, a healthy child will follow an
 Adolescence individual growth curve, even though
 Immediately after birth, an infant the nutrient intake may be different for
normally loses about 5 - 10% of his or her each child. Parents and caregivers should
birth weight. However, by about age 2 provide a diet that is appropriate for
weeks, an infant should start to gain their child's age. They should offer a
weight and grow quickly. wide variety of foods to ensure their
 By age 4 - 6 months, an infant's weight child is getting enough nutrition.
should be double the birth weight.
During the second half of the first year of
life, growth is not as rapid. Between ages
1 and 2, a toddler will gain only about 5
pounds. Weight gain will remain at
about 5 pounds per year between ages 2 -
5.

7. Law
7 Reasons why doctors get sued
 Failure to diagnose or a delay in diagnosis.
 Negligent maternity care practice.
 Negligent fracture or trauma care.
 Failure to consult in a timely manner.
 . Negligent drug treatment.
 Negligent procedures.
 Failure to obtain informed consent

8. Steps for Becoming a Pediatrician
 Concentrate on taking advanced work in whatever you are interested in and
exploring different areas of study in high school.
 Select a major you like
 Maintain good grades if you select a regular four year college and take your
MCAT.
 Go to medical school for four years
 Apply for internship/residency programs in pediatrics through the national
matching service during your third year of medical school.
 Complete your internship and residency. In the U.S., this takes three years: one of
internship followed by two of residency.
 Take the board exam in pediatrics.

9. Video
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLlMkBjHMKI