Your child’s pediatrician is a critical factor in ensuring that your child grows up to be as healthy as possible. This doctor should be your go-to doctor for everything, from getting their scheduled immunizations and vaccinations to checkups to medical visits for acute illnesses.
Because your pediatrician is your child’s doctor from birth until age 18, you will want to establish a good rapport and a trusting relationship with them. Let’s talk about why this is so important, and where you can go to find a skilled and experienced pediatrician for your child here in the Wooster area.
Why Is Pediatric Care Important?
A pediatrician ensures that a child grows and develops normally, primarily through consistent monitoring during regular checkups and preventive care. Your child’s immune system is still developing, so your pediatrician is specially trained to detect and treat any abnormalities that may affect your child before the issue becomes a problem.
Your Pediatrician and Proper Immunizations
A pediatric care practice schedules and administers vaccinations that are essential to preventing illnesses that may otherwise create long-lasting health effects on a child if contracted. The words all mean the same thing: immunization, vaccination, and inoculation.
Some immunizations need to be done very early in a child’s life. Examples are measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, hepatitis, and whooping cough. Both children and adults should have annual flu shot starting at 6 months of age, and your pediatrician will keep track of when your child needs to have the flu shot and other shots as necessary. Timely vaccination is essential to both your child and your entire family. It also protects the community around you, because not everyone is eligible to receive certain vaccinations – which is where herd immunity comes into play. If enough people have been inoculated, then viruses and other types of serious infections cannot spread easily. Therefore, in the interest of everyone’s health, it’s best to stay on top of your child’s immunization schedule.
How Your Pediatrician Can Guide You Through Parenthood
Having a trusting relationship with your pediatrician also means that you can communicate any concerns you may have regarding your child’s care. If the child is withdrawing from friends, showing signs of addiction, or losing or gaining too much weight, your pediatrician can talk to your child about the issues involved.
Keep in mind that the doctor may ask you to go into a different room so that they can communicate with the child privately; make sure that there is another adult in the room with the doctor, such as a nurse.
Dealing with Unusual Childhood Illnesses
If your child is suddenly showing signs of an apparently odd illness, you can take them to the pediatrician for a thorough evaluation. If you have a solid rapport with the doctor, you will be able to fully and accurately communicate the child’s symptoms – so that the doctor doesn’t assume the child just has a bad cold when the issue is actually a strep throat or scarlet fever, for example. Many illnesses have overlapping symptoms, and they need to be communicated clearly.
Top-Notch Pediatrician in Wayne County, Ohio
If you are looking for an expert pediatrician, the pediatric team here at Wooster Community Hospital is here to serve you. We offer a wide range of healthcare services for your child and the whole family.
If you would like to learn more or to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician, contact us today by calling (330) 263-8100. We look forward to being your family’s healthcare partner.
