Pediatrics

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. The age limit of such patients ranges from birth to 18. In countries where the age of majority is 18, this age limit may be from birth to age 17 (such as in Canada). A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician.

What is Pediatrics?

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth up to the age of 18. The word “paediatrics” means “healer of children”; they are derived from two Greek words: (pais = child) and (iatros = doctor or healer). Paediatrics is a relatively new medical specialty, developing only in the mid-19th century. Abraham Jacobi (1830–1919) is known as the father of paediatrics.

Pediatrics Training

Pediatric Skin Conditions

Subspecialties of Pediatrics

Pediatrician: Role, Education, Training, Subspecialties

Infections in Childhood

A Brief History of Pediatrics

Child and Adolescent Sports Injuries

Importance of Sensory Stimulation for Babies

Supporting Children with Mental Health Disorders

How Fast Food Affects Children's Health

Mental Health Disorders and Children

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Effects of Passive Smoking on Children's Health

Latest Pediatrics News and Research

Research shows disparity in pediatric hospital access between rural and urban areas

Children in rural areas were more than six times as likely to check into a hospital without pediatric services compared to children in urban areas, a new study found.

3 May 2024

Rotavirus vaccine in NICUs does not lead to outbreaks, study shows

Rotavirus vaccines do not cause significant outbreaks of the disease in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), according to a new national study.

3 May 2024

Umbilical cord milking safe for newborns' neurodevelopment, study finds

An alternative method of transferring blood cells to weakened newborns through their umbilical cord does not carry long-term neurodevelopmental risks compared to standard practice, a recent study found.

3 May 2024

Study shows benefits of multicomponent lipid emulsions for preterm brain development

Preterm infants supported with a multicomponent intravenous lipid emulsion saw improved brain development compared to those given a single-fat source, a new study finds.

3 May 2024

Extended CPAP treatment boosts lung development in premature infants

Extending the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in premature infants by two weeks significantly increases lung volume and lung diffusion capacity, according to a new study.

3 May 2024

Study reveals age-dependent symptoms of Long COVID in children

Symptoms associated with Long COVID in children differ based on the child's age, according to a nationwide, multi-site study.

3 May 2024

Eye ultrasound method may rapidly detect shunt failure in children

Use of an eye ultrasound may quickly and safely identify children with brain drainage tube failure in the emergency department, according to a new study.

3 May 2024

High blood pressure in youth linked to elevated risk of heart conditions

Youth with high blood pressure are nearly four times more likely to be at long-term risk of serious heart conditions including stroke and heart attack, according to a new study.

3 May 2024

Machine learning tool can speed the diagnosis of undiagnosed patients with rare immune disorders

Researchers say a machine learning tool can identify many patients with rare, undiagnosed diseases years earlier, potentially improving outcomes and reducing cost and morbidity. The findings, led by researchers at UCLA Health, are described in Science Translational Medicine.

1 May 2024

Boosting physical fitness in youth linked to lower mental disorder risks

Study revealed that higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, and muscular power in children and adolescents significantly lower the risks of developing anxiety, depression, and ADHD, suggesting that physical fitness plays a crucial protective role against mental disorders in youth.

1 May 2024

HPV vaccination rates increase with school entry requirements, study finds

A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that school entry requirements are linked to an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations.

29 Apr 2024

Assessing newborn nursing mechanics with modified pacifier technology and AI algorithms

A modified pacifier and AI algorithms to analyze the data it produces could determine if newborns are learning the proper mechanics of nursing, a recent study shows.

29 Apr 2024

Personalized risk prediction tool helps prioritize high-risk infants for RSV prevention

A new tool to identify infants most at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness could aid pediatricians in prioritizing children under 1 to receive a preventive medication before RSV season (October-April), according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) research published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases and to be presented at the American Thoracic Society 2024 International Conference.

25 Apr 2024

Machine learning system offers new hope for diagnosis of rare genetic disorders

Diagnosing rare Mendelian disorders is a labor-intensive task, even for experienced geneticists. Investigators at Baylor College of Medicine are trying to make the process more efficient using artificial intelligence.

25 Apr 2024

Novel immunotherapy shows promise for high-risk sarcomas: HEROS 2.0 trial results published

Researchers at Texas Children’s Cancer Center and the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and Houston Methodist published results of a phase I clinical trial of a novel immunotherapy for high-risk sarcomas in the journal Nature Cancer.

24 Apr 2024