Paediatrics

Paediatricians are medical specialists who diagnose, treat, and provide medical care for babies, children, and teenagers. They deal with illnesses and the child's physical, mental, and behavioural development.

What training does a paediatrician have?

In Australia, paediatricians need to complete at least 6 years of full-time training after they become a doctor. They can become general paediatricians, or they can specialise in areas such as:

• paediatric emergency medicine
• neonatal and perinatal medicine, focusing on the foetus and on premature and newborn babies
• developmental and behavioural paediatrics
• paediatric cardiology, focusing on heart conditions

What conditions do paediatricians treat?

Paediatricians treat a wide range of illnesses, injuries, and conditions. They often examine and treat babies immediately after birth. They can assess and if necessary, resuscitate newborns and manage treatment of premature babies.

They treat babies, children, and teenagers with:

• cancer
• genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome
• disabilities such as cerebral palsy
• developmental delays
• chronic diseases such as diabetes
• infectious diseases such as meningitis
• asthma and allergies
• autism spectrum disorder