Neonatology is one of the subspecialties of pediatrics which deals with the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature babies. It is a hospital-based specialty, and is usually practiced in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The neonatal period is defined as the first month of life.
The branch of medicine involved in the medical care of infants, children is known as Pediatrics. Pediatricians play a major role in treating children. Some of the sub-specialties of pediatrics include Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Genetics, Hospice and Palliative Care, Neonatology, Pain Medicine, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, Pediatric Critical Care, Neuro Critical Care, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care.
NICU (Newborn intensive care unit) is an equipped nursery in hospital that provides 24x7 care to sick or premature babies. NICU doctors and nurses are specially trained to give the sick baby the best possible care. PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) provides the highest level of medical care to critically ill infants, children, and teenagers.
Neonatal nursing is a subspecialty of nursing that works with the newborn infants who have a variety of problems such as prematurity, birth defects, infection, cardiac malformations and surgical problems. Pediatric nursing deals with providing health and medical care for children from birth through their late teens. Pediatric nurses provide expert care to the child.
Neonatal nutrition is one of the sensitive areas as the nutrient demands for preterm babies are extremely challenging to meet. And hence the growth faltering is a common issue. The primary and most important form of nutrition for neonates is breastfeeding. For the infants who cannot breastfeed; standard infant formulas should be given to support adequate nutrition and growth. Pediatric nutrition is another branch of Nutrition and Dietetics that deals with monitoring of proper nutrition intake and nutritional deficiencies in children.
A variety of vaccines are given to newborn infants and children for their well-being. Vaccines provide active acquired immunity to a particular disease. Some of the neonatal & pediatric vaccines include Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Polio, etc.
Pediatric immunology deals with the study of immune system of children. It also includes the study and treatment of allergies in children.
Pediatric endocrinology deals with the study diseases of the endocrine system in children. The disease include diabetes and growth disorders.
Congenital malformations & birth defects are the defects present in a baby at birth. It may involve many parts of the body, including the heart, lungs, brain, liver, bones... Some examples include cleft lip and palate, spina bifida, heart defects, and Down syndrome.
Pediatric surgery deals with the surgery of infants, children and adolescents. Pediatric surgeons diagnose and treat children's surgical needs which include hernias, hydroceles, undescended testes and varicoceles. They also specialize in the surgical repair of birth defects.
ROP (Retinopathy of prematurity) is an eye disease in premature babies. It causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina, and can lead to blindness.
Children need special eye care and attention. They experience a variety of eye problems, which are diagnosed and treated by Pediatric ophthalmologists. These problems include eye infections, Strabismus, Amblyopia, Blocked tear ducts, ROP, etc.
Pediatric dentistry deals with the treatment of dental problems in children from birth through adolescence. There are a number of pediatric dental problems which include tooth decay, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, and early tooth loss.
Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology is concerned with medical and surgical treatment of ear, nose, and throat diseases in children.
Pediatric Pulmonology deals with the study of breathing problems in children. The common problems include Chronic cough, Wheezing, Pneumonia, Asthma, Cystic fibrosis, etc.
Pediatric Cardiology is a branch which deals with treating the child heart related issues. It concentrates on diagnosing different congenital heart defects in children. Pediatric Hematology is deals with the investigation of the cause, analysis, treatment, and prevention of sicknesses identified with blood.
Pediatric Neurology deals with the diagnosis, treatment and management of pediatric neurologic disorders. These disorders mainly include Seizures, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy or neuropathy.
Pediatric gastroenterology deals with diagnosis and treatment of defects in child's digestive system. Endoscope is used to examine the inside of the digestive tract or obtain biopsies. Pediatric Hepatology deals with the study of defects in child's liver.
Pediatric dermatology deals with the study of skin disorders in children. Common procedures include protection from bites, stings, and photodamage; Managing dermatitis, Treatment of warts; Treating scabies and fungal infections.
Pediatric psychiatry comprises the diagnosis, treatment, aversion and recovery of neuropsychiatric and formative issue and conduct unsettling influences in children and grown-ups. Child psychiatry is generally called pediatric psychiatry. A few disorders like chemical imbalance or direct issue have critical ramifications for the child's improvement and alteration in adult life. It inspects the bio psychosocial factor that effects the improvement and course of mental issue and treatment response to various intercessions. Pediatric psychiatry is concerned with the analysis, treatment, and avoidance of mental disorders in children, teenagers. Treatment of Psychiatric disorders include: behavior therapy cognitive-behavior therapy, problem-solving therapies, etc.
Childhood obesity is a condition where a child is significantly overweight for his or her age and height. Obese children can be affected with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Pediatric Orthopedics deals with the musculoskeletal system and treating injuries to bones, joints, ligaments, or tendons of children.