If you’re a parent, you’ve likely had to head to the doctor or hospital without a moment’s notice because your child is unwell. Knowing who to go to when your child is sick can be comforting.
But more than that, health care is important right from the moment your child is born. Having a reliable and trusted doctor that you can turn to during illness will help your child grow and develop healthily.
What is a children’s specialist called?
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A children’s specialist is called a paediatrician. They are trained to manage the physical, mental and behavioural care of children from birth until they reach 18 years of age.
Paediatricians are medical doctors who can treat many childhood illnesses, including serious diseases. Paediatricians can work in general practice or specialise in specific health conditions.
What does a paediatric specialist do?
You will most probably visit your paediatrician many times for the first two years of your child’s life. After that, these trips will get less frequent as your child gets older. Nonetheless, your child needs to have an annual checkup just to make sure that all is well.
Here’s what a paediatrician will do:
- Physical examinations of your child – this is especially so in the early years to ensure that your child is growing normally.
- Give your child recommended immunisations.
- Ensure that your child meets developmental milestones and, if not, find out the cause.
- Diagnose and treat childhood illnesses, injuries, infections, diseases and other health issues.
- Prescribe medication when needed.
- Provide health and nutritional information.
- Provide answers to questions regarding your child’s health, growth and development, as well as address any concerns you might have.
- Refer your child to other medical specialists if there are health conditions beyond their usual expertise.
Child specialist clinics near me
The following are a list of child specialist clinic in KL and Selangor:
Paediatricians in KL
Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (Bangsar)
Pantai Hospital Cheras (Taman Cheras Makmur)
ParkCity Medical Centre (Desa ParkCity)
Prince Court Medical Centre (Bukit Bintang)
Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur
Paediatricians in Selangor
Assunta Hospital (Petaling Jaya)
Thomson Hospital (Kota Damansara)
Sunway Medical Center (Bandar Sunway)
Subang Jaya Medical Center (Subang Jaya)
KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital (Shah Alam)
When to see a paediatrician?
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Your newborn should be seen by a paediatrician when he or she is born and every day during your hospital stay after childbirth. Upon leaving the hospital, your next appointment will usually be within a week. You will probably have another appointment when your baby is two to four weeks old.
During the first year, your paediatrician may schedule monthly visits. You will also have to head to the clinic when vaccinations are due. Don’t worry; your doctor will provide a vaccination schedule for you to follow.
Annual visits to the paediatrician are recommended to ensure that your child is growing well. Besides this, you can make appointments when your child is ill or if you have any health concerns. Of course, head straight to your paediatrician’s clinic or the hospital that your child’s doctor is attached to if there is a medical emergency or serious injuries.
Why should my child see a paediatrician?
It’s not mandatory for your child to see a paediatrician. Family doctors and general practitioners are also able to provide routine medical care for your little one, and there is nothing wrong with this.
However, here are some reasons why you should consider visiting the child specialist clinic:
- They are specially trained to meet the physical, behavioural and emotional needs of children.
- Because paediatricians specialise in treating children, they are more experienced in treating childhood illnesses.
- A child specialist will be able to offer personalised and specialised care if your child was born premature or has a health condition that requires monitoring.
How to choose a paediatrician?
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As a parent/caregiver, you’ll want to feel comfortable with your child’s doctor. After all, this doctor will be treating your child. Try to start looking for a paediatrician when you enter your third trimester, as you’ll need one as soon as your baby arrives.
Ask your friends and family and even your OB/GYN if they have any recommendations. Schedule a discussion if possible, or contact the clinic to see how well you connect and how you feel about the doctor.
These questions may help you make a decision:
- What sort of reputation does the doctor have?
- What are his or her qualifications, training and experience?
- Will this paediatrician respect my views on immunisations and breastfeeding?
- Does this paediatrician address my concerns and explain things clearly?
- Who covers for him/her when they are not available?
- Is the clinic nearby?
- Is clinic staff helpful?
- Does it take very long to get an appointment? Is the wait time very long?
- What happens if there is an emergency?
- Which hospital is the paediatrician affiliated with?
- Does my insurance cover services from this paediatrician?
Conclusion
While it’s not entirely a must for your child to go to a child specialist clinic when he or she is ill, a paediatrician is a medical doctor trained specially to diagnose and treat childhood illnesses. Having a doctor who is good with your child and can address your concerns can be comforting for both you and your child.
We hope our list of child specialist clinic in KL and Selangor can help you if you’re looking for a paediatrician.
For more on Children’s Health & Development and Parenting, check out the rest of our articles at theAsianparent.
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