Key information about paediatricians
What does a paediatrician do?
A paediatrician is the doctor responsible for monitoring the growth, development and overall health of babies, children and teenagers. They prevent, diagnose and treat childhood illnesses, while supporting families through every stage of development.
Why would you be referred to a paediatrician?
Children are referred to a paediatrician if they have symptoms of illness, growth concerns, developmental delays or if they require routine health monitoring and preventive care.
When should you see a paediatrician?
During childhood, it is recommended to attend regular health check-ups to monitor growth and help prevent potential health problems. Parents or carers should also seek medical advice if a child develops symptoms such as fever, cough, digestive problems, headaches or respiratory infections, or if there are concerns about development or behavioural changes. Seeing a paediatrician is a routine and important part of maintaining a child’s overall health.
Why choose a paediatrician?
Paediatricians are specially trained to understand how illnesses affect children differently from adults. Early diagnosis and monitoring help support long-term health and development.
Types of patients seen by paediatric specialists
Paediatricians care for newborns, infants, children and adolescents requiring preventive care, developmental monitoring, or diagnosis and treatment of childhood conditions.
Conditions treated by paediatric specialists
Preparing for a paediatric consultation
Bring your child’s medical records, current medications, vaccination history and notes about symptoms. For babies, it can help to record feeding, sleep and behavioural patterns.
Tests or treatments a paediatrician may request
How can I book an appointment with a paediatrician?
At Top Doctors, you can book a consultation with a leading paediatrician in just one click, based on availability, location and clinical expertise.
Best paediatric centres in the UK
At Top Doctors, we work with leading specialist centres in paediatrics, offering advanced diagnostic technology and comprehensive child healthcare.
Sources
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. (2022). Pocket book of primary health care for children and adolescents in the WHO European Region. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/352485/9789289057622-eng.pdf
- Eurostat. (2024). Health statistics: Children. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Health_statistics_-_children
- UNICEF, & World Health Organization. (2022). Global core indicators for measuring WHO's paediatric quality-of-care standards in health facilities. https://data.unicef.org/resources/global-core-indicators-for-measuring-whos-paediatric-quality%E2%80%91of%E2%80%91care-standards-in-health-facilities/
