Children between the ages of 4 and 10 develop four to six illnesses per year. Some of the most common ones include the common cold, strep throat, gastroenteritis, and hand-foot-mouth disease.
Depending on the severity, a doctor’s visit may be necessary. For example, you may want to see a pediatrician if your child has a high fever as it may indicate an infection.
Want to learn more about what they do? Wondering whether or not you should visit a pediatrician? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ll be going over a few common reasons to see them below. Keep reading to learn more!
-
Immunizations
Young children are more vulnerable to diseases due to their immature immune systems. That’s why childhood vaccinations are so important—it allows them to develop immunity without having to get sick.
For maximum protection, they should get vaccinated by their pediatrician on time, starting at 2 months of age. Some of the earliest vaccines available include those for hepatitis B, polio, rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.
Avoid delaying immunizations as it’ll put your child at risk of developing serious illnesses. For example, certain infections can cause meningitis, which can lead to permanent brain injury.
Note: All pediatric care centers follow the same immunization schedule provided by the CDC (provopediatrics.com is one such example).
-
Wellness Checkups
It’s important for your child to have regularly scheduled checkups with their pediatrician. That way, they’ll be able to monitor their developmental progress or milestones. As a general rule, your child should have 7 well-child visits between the ages of 1 and 4.
Generally speaking, they’ll begin the checkup by taking measurements. More specifically, they’ll weigh and measure your child to evaluate their growth in height, weight, and BMI.
They’ll also check for any developmental delays. For example, they may ask about your child’s behavior at home and observe things like walking, smiling, sitting up, or rolling over. Not only that, but they may test their muscle tone and reflexes.
-
Ear Infections
Children are prone to ear infections; this is particularly true for those between the ages of 2 and 4. Not only are their eustachian tubes shorter, which allows viruses and bacteria to enter more easily, but they’re also narrower, making them more likely to get blocked.
Common signs include ear pain, pulling or tugging at the ear, crying, and trouble sleeping. In some cases, it can also cause a fever of 100F or higher.
Contact your pediatrician right away if your child is less than 6 months and showing symptoms or if the symptoms have persisted for more than a day— they may require antibiotics or another type of treatment.
Visiting a Pediatrician
The bottom line is, there are several reasons for seeing a pediatrician. Not only will they administer vaccines, but they’ll also monitor your child’s well-being as they grow and develop.
Interested in more articles like this? If so, be sure to check out some of the other posts in our health section!
