What Does a Pediatrician Do? A Complete Guide for Parents
A pediatrician (also spelled paediatrician) is a medical doctor who specialises in the physical, mental, and social health of children from birth through adolescence. They diagnose and treat illnesses, monitor growth and development, advise on nutrition and vaccinations, and provide parents with guidance on raising healthy children. Pediatricians are the first point of contact for most child health concerns in India.
This guide covers exactly what a pediatrician does, which conditions they treat, when to consult one versus a general physician, and how Indian parents can access one quickly - including online consultations that require no travel or waiting room time.
What a Pediatrician Treats
Pediatricians manage a wide range of conditions across a child's development:
Acute illnesses: Fever, cold, cough, throat infections, ear infections, stomach infections, skin rashes, and urinary tract infections. These are the most common reasons parents consult a pediatrician.
Growth and development: Monitoring height, weight, and head circumference against growth charts. Identifying delayed milestones in speech, motor skills, and social development.
Vaccinations and preventive care: Managing the complete immunisation schedule from birth through adolescence, advising on vaccine timing, and addressing side effects.
Chronic conditions: Asthma, allergies, eczema, recurring infections, and nutritional deficiencies like iron deficiency anaemia.
Newborn care: Jaundice in newborns, feeding difficulties, colic, and neonatal weight concerns.
Behavioural and developmental issues: Attention difficulties, sleep disorders, anxiety in children, and developmental delays.
Pediatrician vs General Physician: Which Should You Choose?
For children under 12, a pediatrician is generally the better choice for most health concerns. Pediatricians have specific post-graduate training in child physiology, child-specific drug dosing, and developmental assessment that general physicians may not.
A general physician is appropriate for minor concerns in older children (12+) or when a pediatrician is not immediately available. For recurrent illness, developmental concerns, or newborn care, a pediatrician is always preferable.
What Happens in a Pediatrician Consultation
A standard consultation covers:
- Chief complaint - the primary reason for the visit
- History - duration, associated symptoms, medications already tried
- Examination - temperature, weight, throat, ears, abdomen, skin (in-person) or symptom-guided assessment (online)
- Assessment - diagnosis or differential diagnoses
- Plan - medication, home management, when to seek further care
- Parent education - what to watch for, when to return
Online consultations follow the same structure except physical examination is replaced by detailed symptom description, photographs where relevant, and previous test reports.
Online Pediatrician Consultations: What Parents Need to Know
Online pediatrician consultations are appropriate for the majority of acute concerns - fever management, cold and cough, skin rashes, feeding questions, growth doubts, and vaccine advice. They are faster, more accessible, and eliminate travel and waiting room exposure for a sick child.
Little Joys offers online consultations with experienced paediatricians including Dr. Imran Rizvi (8 years of experience, MBBS DCH, specialist in developmental disorders and neonatal care) who can be consulted from home at a time that works for your schedule.
-> Consult a Pediatrician Online
When to Take Your Child to a Pediatrician
Consult within 24 hours if:
- Fever above 38.5°C in a child under 3 months
- Fever lasting more than 3 days in any child
- Breathing difficulty or rapid breathing
- Rash appearing alongside fever
- Child is unusually lethargic or not responding normally
Consult at a routine appointment if:
- Missed vaccine doses
- Growth concerns (not gaining weight, not growing in height)
- Recurring infections (more than 6-8 per year)
- Speech or developmental milestone delays
FAQ
Q: What is the difference between a pediatrician and a child specialist?
In India, "child specialist" is a common lay term for a paediatrician. Both refer to the same specialist - a doctor with a post-graduate qualification in paediatrics (MBBS + DCH or MD Paediatrics). The term child specialist is more common in non-metro cities.
Q: At what age does a child stop seeing a pediatrician?
Pediatricians typically see patients up to age 18 in India. After 18, patients transition to adult internal medicine or specialist care as needed.
Q: Can I consult a pediatrician online for a newborn?
Yes - online consultations are appropriate for newborn concerns including feeding difficulties, jaundice questions, weight gain assessment, and general newborn care guidance. If the newborn shows signs of breathing difficulty or severe jaundice, in-person emergency care is required.
Q: How much does a pediatrician consultation cost in India?
In-clinic pediatrician fees range from Rs. 300-1500 depending on city and seniority. Online consultations are typically Rs. 200-600 and offer comparable clinical guidance for the majority of non-emergency concerns.