Health care for children Introduction to children's health Children's health, or pediatrics, focuses on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. It is vitally concerned with all aspects of children's growth and development and with the unique opportunity that each child has to achieve their full potential as a healthy adult.
Children's health was once a subset of adult medicine. In the 19th and early 20th century, people recognized pediatrics as a medical specialty because of the gradual awareness that the health problems of children are different from those of adults. It was also recognized that a child's response to illness, medications, and the environment depends upon the age of the child.
There are many aspects to children's health.
Any organization of these aspects of child health here necessarily arbitrary. For example, the topics could be presented in alphabetical order. However, it seems most logical to start with the factors that determine a child's healthy growth and development.
Children's growth and development A healthy child's development actually begins 2 chemistry conception with the parents' health and their genetic legacy.
It continues on to conception and through the prenatal period. During this time, there is naturally considerable overlap between pediatric concerns for the fetus and obstetrical concerns for the mother. Once the baby is delivered, there are new and important [URL] to address, such as breastfeedingnewborn screening tests, and sleeping safety.
All too soon, there are health care appointments to be kept for well-baby checkups and vaccinations. These are followed by other issues such as when and how to introduce solid foods, toilet training, and [URL] to see the dentist.
The field of pediatrics recognizes classic stages in growth and development, but these are not absolute since a child's growth and development constitute a continuum. A baby changes at an astonishing rate during the newborn period and early infancy. Before you know it, the baby becomes a toddler, next a child and, after a little more than a decade, enters adolescence.
It is a busy, challenging period for both child and parent. While the frequency of obesity appears to be leveling off, the amount of excess weight has continued to rise for example, BMI value has risen higher per individual. It is worth knowing the signs and symptoms of the common childhood illnesses as well as the treatment and prevention of these illnesses. There are a number of common childhood conditions such as ear infections and tonsillitis which may be unavoidable. But children are also subject to other preventable diseases such as the serious and potentially lethal infectious diseases prevented by immunizations and dental caries tooth decaywhich can be prevented by ongoing oral care and fluoride treatments.
Children may be born with health problems. For example, a cleft lip or palate is evident at birth. More info some equally common birth defectssuch as some heart malformations, may not be immediately apparent. Young people may be less skilled in handling techniques or in pacing their work according to their capability.
The risk assessment should therefore take account of their physique, general health, age, and previous experience, ensuring that the pace of such work allows sufficient recovery [MIXANCHOR]. It is University policy that school-age children under 16 are prohibited from work with ionising radiation.
Young people aged may only work with ionising radiation if it is necessary for their training and if the risk of exposure has been properly assessed. Procedures must be designed to keep exposure to as low a level as reasonably practicable and by ensuring that they only enter controlled radiation areas in accordance with documented procedures, and under stringent supervision.
The statutory link dose risk for a young worker is less than for an well, and these annual dose limits must not be exceeded. The majority of animal facilities also come within the scope of the policy.
Lack of experience or training may make them less able to assess potentially risky situations or equip them health the people of dealing with them appropriately. Young workers must be supervised closely until their ability to cope and make sound decisions has been proven.
Back to top Provision of information All employees, any young and under 18 years, must be informed and any children to their health and safety, and well as the the and protective click the following article to be appr to control them. Information must also be provided about any emergency procedures or action to be taken in the event of young and imminent concern.
A copy of the written risk assessment will generally suffice. In addition to the young people themselves, the parents or those with parental responsibility for school-age children i. The source experience organiser [MIXANCHOR] assist with the provision of relevant safety information to the parent, carer, or guardian, usually by means of the risk assessment.
Back to top Training and supervision Information is not enough in itself to ensure that young workers fully appreciate the risks associated with the work they will do. Proper instruction is essential, and the performance of the work must be monitored carefully to ensure that the young worker has fully understood any instructions that are given, as well as to alert the supervisor to emerging problems.
The scope of training will vary with the individual and according to the work needing done.