AAP Patient Education Library
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- Common Illnesses And Conditions
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- Newborns Infants And Toddlers
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- Promoting Pediatric Care
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- Sexual Health And Sexuality
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Promoting Pediatric Care
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Choosing a Pediatrician
A MINUTE FOR KIDS: The health care needs of children are different than those of adults. Pediatricians have been specially trained to deal with these special needs. Feel free to ask a pediatrician many questions so that you can be well informed about their qualifications before settling on a pediatrician for your child.
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Government Insurance Programs
A MINUTE FOR KIDS: Many parents may be surprised to know that many teens are eligible for government funded insurance, as an attempt to reduce the unnecessary use of emergency room care. The SCHIP program can help children have access to a medical home and consistent medical care.
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How Special Is Your Child?
Special enough to be cared for by a doctor who only sees children and youth? Special enough to be cared for by a physician trained and experienced in the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of children and youth?
Special enough to be cared for as a child, not as a small adult?
Special enough to be cared for by a doctor who has had 3 to 6 years of pediatric training after medical school and has passed rigorous tests to be certified as a pediatrician?
Special enough to be treated with respect as an individual and as a person entitled to special care?
If you answered yes to all the above, WELCOME, You've come to the right place. Pediatricians spend as much as 3 to 6 years in pediatric training after medical school. That equals up to 24 times more training in the care of children than other physicians who receive an average of 3 additional months of pediatric training after medical school.
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Maintaing a Medical Record
A MINUTE FOR KIDS: While your pediatrician maintains a complete medical record for your child, as a parent you may want to keep one of your own in case you move, change physicians, or need care while on vacation.
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Parent's Guide to Complementary and Integrative Medicine, A
Where do you turn for help when your child gets sick? You may call your child's doctor or another health professional. You might call your mom or friend for advice. You may look on the Internet or in a magazine or book. While most children in North America receive conventional medicine when they are sick, many parents want to know about natural therapies too.
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Pediatric Subspecialists
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created a series of fact sheets about different surgical and medical pediatric subspecialists to whom your children may be referred. The fact sheets are available on the official AAP Web site for parents: Search for fact sheets at
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Privacy of Medical Records
A MINUTE FOR KIDS: When you take your child to the doctor, you may be asked to sign a HIPAA form. This form deals with issues of privacy when it comes to your doctor disclosing specific health information over the phone or in the presence of others. Your doctor cannot disclose any private information if you have not given them this permission.
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Treating Your Child's Pain: Surgery
Often after children have surgery, they have problems with pain. Luckily, there are ways to help ease this type of pain. Read on to find out how your child's pain from surgery can be managed. To treat a child's pain, it is important to find out how bad the pain is. There are several ways to tell if a child is in pain.
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What is a Child Neurologist?
If your child has problems involving the nervous system, a Child neurologists are medical doctors who have completed
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What is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician?
If your child has a developmental, learning, or behavioral
problem, a Developmental-behavioral pediatricians are medical doctors who
have completed
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What is a Neonatologist?
Although your pediatrician can solve most health problems of newborns, a If your newborn is premature, or has a serious illness, injury, or birth defect, a neonatologist may assist at the time of delivery and in the subsequent care of your newborn. If a problem is identified before your baby is born, a neonatologist may become involved to consult with your obstetrician in your baby's care during your pregnancy.
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What is a Pediatric Allergist/Immunologist?
If your child suffers from allergies or other problems with his immune system, a Your child's immune system fights infections. If your child has allergies, her immune system wrongly reacts to things that are usually harmless. Pet dander, pollen, dust, mold spores, insect stings, food, and medications are examples of such things. This reaction may cause her body to respond with health problems such as asthma, hay fever, hives, eczema (a rash), or a very severe and unusual reaction called anaphylaxis.
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What is a Pediatric Anesthesiologist?
If your child has an illness, injury, or disease that requires surgery, a A pediatric anesthesiologist is a fully trained anesthesiologist who has completed at least 1 year of specialized training in anesthesia care of infants and children. Most pediatric surgeons deliver care to children in the operating room along with a pediatric anesthesiologist. Many children who need surgery have very complex medical problems that affect many parts of the body. The pediatric anesthesiologist is best qualified to evaluate these complex problems and plan a safe anesthetic for each child. Through special training and experience, pediatric anesthesiologists provide the safest care for infants and children undergoing anesthesia.
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What is a Pediatric Critical Care Specialist?
If your child has an illness or injury that results in your child being in an unstable critical condition, a hospital-based Severe asthma
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What is a Pediatric Dentist?
Children begin to get their baby teeth during the first 6 months of life.
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What is a Pediatric Dermatologist?
If your child has skin conditions such as birthmarks, eczema, warts, or psoriasis, a Pediatric dermatologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Emergency Physician?
A Your pediatrician may call on a pediatric emergency physician to help if your child has an acute illness or injury or special health care needs that require urgent assistance.
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What is a Pediatric Endocrinologist?
If your child has problems with growth, puberty, diabetes, or other disorders related to the hormones and the glands that produce them, a Hormones are chemicals that affect how other parts of the body work.
For example, hormones decide how a child grows and matures. Endocrine glands, such as the pituitary gland, release hormones into the bloodstream. Endocrinology is the science that studies these glands and the effects of the hormones.
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What is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist?
If your child has a digestive system, liver, or nutritional problem, a Pediatric gastroenterologists treat children from the newborn period through the teen years. They choose to make pediatric care the core of their medical practice, which provides extensive experience specifically in the care of infants, children, and teens.
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What is a Pediatric Geneticist?
Fortunately, most children are born healthy with no medical problems or birth defects. However, some children are born with differences in body structure, brain development, or body chemistry that can lead to problems with health, development, school performance, and/or social interaction. Pediatric geneticists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist?
If your child or teen has a blood disease or cancer, a Pediatric hematologists/oncologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Hospitalist?
If your child has an illness or injury requiring hospitalization, he or she may be cared for by a Pediatric hospitalists are pediatricians who work primarily in hospitals. They care for children in many hospital areas, including the pediatric ward, labor and delivery, the newborn nursery, the emergency department, the neonatal intensive care unit, and the pediatric intensive care unit.
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What is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist?
If your child has a recurring or persistent disease caused by an infectious agent such as bacteria, a fungus, a parasite, or other rare infection, a Pediatric infectious diseases specialists are medical doctors who have
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What is a Pediatric Nephrologist?
If your child has kidney or urinary tract disease, bladder problems, or high blood pressure, a Pediatric nephrologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Neurosurgeon?
If your child has problems involving the head, spine, or nervous system, a Neurosurgical problems seen by pediatric neurosurgeons are often quite different from those commonly seen by adult or general neurosurgeons. Special training in pediatric diseases as they relate to pediatric neurosurgical diseases is important. Pediatric neurosurgical problems often are present for life. Pediatric neurosurgeons have a special and long-standing relationship with their patients. Children with nervous system problems frequently require ongoing and close follow-up throughout childhood and adolescence.
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What is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist?
If your child has an eye problem, is having difficulty with a vision screening exam or has difficulty reading or learning, or needs surgery or medical treatment for an illness affecting the eyes, a Pediatric ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon?
If your child has musculoskeletal (bone) problems, a Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are medical doctors who have
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What is a Pediatric Otolaryngologist?
If your child needs surgical or complex medical treatment for illnesses or problems affecting the ear, nose, or throat, a Pediatric otolaryngologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon?
If your child needs surgery to fix a deformity caused by a birth defect, injury, illness, or tumor, a All children become ill or injured at one time or another. Most problems are simple and can be solved by your pediatrician. At times, however, special care from a pediatric plastic surgeon may be needed and may make the difference in achieving the best possible cosmetic result. If you think your child needs this kind of special care, request a visit with a pediatric plastic surgeon.
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What is a Pediatric Pulmonologist?
If your child has breathing problems, or a problem with his or her lungs, a Pediatric pulmonologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Radiologist?
A Pediatric radiologists have the following formal training:
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What is a Pediatric Rheumatologist?
If your child has complaints of pain in the musculoskeletal system (joints, muscles, bones, or tendons), other symptoms of arthritis, or an autoimmune disorder, your pediatrician may recommend a Pediatric rheumatologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist?
If your child or teenager has an injury or illness that affects sports performance, exercise, or activity, a In growing children, injuries and medical problems in the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints (ie, musculoskeletal conditions) often are quite different from conditions more commonly seen in older patients. Special training and experience in pediatric sports medicine allows these specialists to appropriately treat the unique sports-related medical needs of children and teenagers.
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What is a Pediatric Surgeon?
If your child has an illness, injury, or disease that requires surgery, a Surgical problems seen by pediatric surgeons are often quite different from those commonly seen by adult or general surgeons. Special training in pediatric surgery is important.
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What is a Pediatric Urologist?
If your child has an illness or disease of the genitals or urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder), a Pediatric urologists are medical doctors who have had
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What is a Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care Transport Team?
If your newborn is premature or your child has a critical illness or injury requiring transportation from one medical facility to another, your newborn or child may require the care of a Some conditions require the expertise offered at larger or more specialized facilities. When medical transportation from one hospital to another is needed, a pediatric/neonatal critical care transport team may assist your newborn or child during travel. Members of a pediatric/neonatal critical care transport team can include nurses, paramedics, respiratory care practitioners, doctors, and other health care workers with special training in the care of premature newborns and ill and injured children. They have the training and equipment to properly care for newborns and children in an ambulance, airplane, or helicopter.
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What is an Adolescent Health Specialist?
If your child is between the ages of 11 and 21 years, he or she may benefit from the care of an Today's adolescents face tremendous social and academic pressures, as well as potentially life-threatening illnesses, habits, and behaviors. Adolescent health specialists have the training and expertise to help teens and young adults with their complex physical, behavioral, and emotional health care needs—from physical exams and immunizations to reproductive and mental health care.
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When to Call Emergency Services
A MINUTE FOR KIDS: It may be difficult to know when it is appropriate to seek emergency care for your child, but if you have any doubt go ahead and contact your local emergency services team. Be sure to stay calm. Work to prevent future emergencies by making sure that your child's environment is safe and free of injury risks.
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When Your Child Needs Emergency Medical Services
TIPP SHEETS: This handout describes how parents can recognize when their child may need emergency medical care, and what they should do to be prepared under such circumstances. It describes signs and symptoms of a potential emergency, and steps a parent should take to get their child help.
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You and Your Pediatrician
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed this information to help you Choose a pediatrician.