Sub-speciality in paediatrics:
1)Neonatalogy
Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonatology
Neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics that consists of the medical care of newborn infants, especially the ill or premature newborn infant. It is a hospital-based specialty, and is usually practiced in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The principal patients ofneonatologists are newborn infants who are ill or requiring special medical care due to prematurity, low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation, congenital malformations (birth defects), sepsis, or birth asphyxias.
2) Community / general paediatrician
Community Paediatrics is an emerging specialty with several distinct areas of interest:-
- Child Public Health and Population Paediatrics
- Behavioural and developmental paediatrics
- Neurodisability
- Social paediatrics and child protection
- Ambulatory paediatrics
It is a multidisciplinary and multiagency clinical specialty which requires talented researchers from a number of backgrounds including paediatrics, primary care, public health, community nursing, medical geography, anthropology, sociology, psychology, statistics and epidemiology.
3) Paedriatric surgeon
Pediatric surgeons are primarily concerned with the diagnosis, preoperative, operative, and postoperative management of surgical problems in children. Some medical conditions in newborns are not compatible with a good quality of life unless these problems are corrected surgically.
These conditions must be recognized immediately by neonatologists, pediatricians, and family physicians. Pediatric surgeons cooperate with all of the specialists involved in a child's medical care to determine whether surgery is the best option for the child.
Pediatric surgeons operate on children whose development ranges from the newborn stage through the teenage years. In addition to completing training and achieving board certification, pediatric surgeons complete two additional years of training exclusively in children's surgery. They then receive special certification in the subspecialty of pediatric surgery.
4) Paediatric Oncologist
Oncology is the medical study and treatment of cancer. A doctor who practices oncology is an oncologist. The term is from the Greek "onkos": meaning bulk, mass or tumor. Cancer is defined as the uncontrolled or unregulated growth of cells. The word is derived from "crab" in Latin. In general, one billion cells are required for a cancer lump to reach 1cm diameter or to weigh 1g. This is the limit of detection by imaging techniques.
5) Paediatric cardiologist
Paediatric Cardiology is the subject dealing with children’s heart diseases. Literally, though it would mean that it is confined to a small proportion of patients limited by age groups, actually it spreads it’s wings from dealing about the heart of the yet unborn child in the mother’s womb to the management of Congenital Heart Diseases in adults.
6) Paediatric infectious disease
Infectious disease specialists focus on the interface between humans, their immune systems and the microbial world. Children are particularly susceptible to infections and their consequences, yet they represent the greatest opportunity to prevent disease through comprehensive immunization programs. Pediatric ID specialists develop and employ strategies to diagnose, treat, and prevent infectious diseases in children.
7) Paediatric endocrinologist
A pediatric endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children with diseases of the endocrine system, such as diabetes and growth disorders. The glands of the endocrine system produce hormones, which are chemical substances that regulate many important body functions.
8) Paediatric neurologist
The Paediatric Neurologist diagnoses and cares for children with disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscle. They also specialized in assessing children with behavioral syndromes such as Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learning difficulty, such as Dyslexia.
9) Paediatrics and clinical genetics
Resources: http://www.clingensoc.org/info_genetics.htm
Clinical Genetics is the medical specialty which provides a diagnostic service and "genetic counselling" for individuals or families with, or at risk of, conditions which may have a genetic basis. Genetic disorders can affect any body system and any age group. The aim of Genetic Services is to help those affected by, or at risk of, a genetic disorder to live and reproduce as normally as possible. Genetic disorders include :
- Chromosomal abnormalities, which cause birth defects, mental retardation and/or reproductive problems.
- Single gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease and sickle cell disease.
- Familial cancer and cancer-prone syndromes such as inherited breast or colorectal cancer and neurofibromatosis.
- Birth defects with a genetic component such as neural tube defects and cleft lip and palate.
10)Paediatrics metabolic diseases
This career is focusing on the metabolic disorder occurring genetically since infant. The term metabolism refers to all biochemical processes and pathways in the body. Enzymes play a key role in many of these processes and changes in their function, as a result, of genetic mutation can lead to problems in these pathways. The major metabolic pathways for proteins, carbohydrates and lipids are closely integrated with key molecules, such as acetyl co-enzyme A via complex mechanisms. A genetic defect in any part of the major metabolic pathways is known as an inborn or congenital (if present from birth) error of metabolism.
11) Paediatric respiratory disease
Resource: erke.med.stu.edu.cn/news/edit/UploadFile/2009713131156733.ppt
Respiratory diseases that include inflammation of upper and lower respiratory tract, allergic diseases, pleura diseases, foreign body, pulmonary tumors and congenital disorders is a significant cause of death and chronic illness in children. Paediatric pulmonary diseases account for almost 50% of deaths in children under age 1 year and about 20% of all hospitalization of children under age 15 years.
12) Paediatric gastroenterologist
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster (gen.: gastros) (stomach), enteron (intestine), and logos (reason). Diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the organs from mouth to anus, along the alimentary canal, are the focus of this specialty.
13) Paediatric dermatologist
Pediatric dermatology resources to help you learn more about common skin conditions in children, including acne, eczema, infections, poison ivy and other rashes.
14) Paediatric intensivist
Resource: http://mpaweb.org.my/article.php?aid=237
Paediatric Intensive Care is multidisciplinary in nature crossing departmental and speciality lines inasmuch as the problems encountered in the critically ill patient encompasses different aspects of different specialities. The paediatric intensivist is a specialist whose knowledge is of necessity broad involving all aspects of management of the critically ill child and whose base of operation is the ICU.
15) Paediatric rheumatologist
A pediatric rheumatologist is a physician who specializes in providing comprehensive care to children (as well as their families) with rheumatic diseases, especially arthritis.
