Different Child Health Care Professionals

They say it takes a village to raise a child and that may very well be true when it comes to child health care. By the time your child reaches the age of eighteen, he or she is likely to have seen at least five different child health care workers all specializing in different ailments and treatments. The most common child health care professional is the pediatrician, a doctor who only treats people under the age of eighteen. A nurse is usually in charge of administering vaccinations and may be the one you talk to about minor issues involving your child's health care. Under most circumstances your child will see a dentist every six months or so starting at age three. The orthodontist should be seen whenever your child's dentist first recommends it, usually around age nine or ten. Lastly, your child should see an optometrist annually starting at age five or six just to check for proper vision and good eye health.

Pediatricians

Pediatricians, as stated earlier, are child health care doctors who focus only on patients under the age of eighteen. A pediatrician will likely examine your infant shortly after birth in order to assess the baby's health and will remain a primary force in the health of your child until he or she goes off to college. The pediatrician will perform annual checkups for your child as well as treat injuries and illnesses. Since pediatricians are medical doctors, they are child health care workers that can prescribe medicine if needed.

Nurse

The nurse is responsible for giving vaccinations when they are needed. Usually she will discuss potential side effects and treatments as well as any danger signs you should watch for once the immunization is given. When you call the doctor's office with a concern about your child's health or behavior, it is probable that a nurse will be the one to return your call. They are experts at calming nervous parents and discussing how to treat mild ailments at home. The nurse will also be able to tell from the symptoms whether you should bring your child into the office or not.

Dentist

The dentist is most likely the third child health care worker that your child will visit. Your pediatrician will probably suggest you bring your child for their first visit around the age of three. The first visit is mostly centered around making the child comfortable visiting the dentist. Your child's teeth will be counted and cleaned and they'll most likely leave with a toy, a new toothbrush and other such goodies.

Optometrist

The optometrist, or eye doctor, has the import job of making sure everything is all right with your child's vision and eye health. While some people feel eye exams are only necessary when a problem in vision occurs, nothing could be farther from the truth. The truth is that there are many illnesses that first reveal themselves in the eyes. By having your child's eyes checked regularly, you are in a much better position of catching these issues earlier. For this reason the optometrist is definitely an important member of the child health care team.

Orthodontist

Your dentist will recommend an orthodontist if there is an issue with the alignment of your child's teeth. They are the one who may suggest braces or a retainer for your child and will help you maintain the proper care of the appliance. Although it is possible that your child won't need to see an orthodontist, most children do at one time or another.

source: The health care center