A pediatric endocrinologist is a pediatrician who specializes in the treatment of children. These doctors are also endocrinologists, a type of doctor who specializes in the endocrine system. The thyroid gland, pituitary gland, and pancreas, to name a few, are all part of this system. When these two studies are combined, a pediatric endocrinologist is a doctor who treats children with endocrine system disorders.
This doctor has undergone extensive training. Pediatric endocrinology is a subspecialty of pediatrics, which is already a specialty. Doctors must study pediatrics in residence for three years after graduating from medical school. They will need to continue their studies in endocrinology for another three years. To become a pediatric endocrinologist, a person must complete ten years of education after earning a bachelor’s degree, or a total of 14 years of training after high school.
Children may require the services of a pediatric endocrinologist for a variety of reasons. These specialists look after the majority of children with Type I Diabetes. Children with a faulty thyroid function or other conditions that may affect growth and development may be treated by pediatric endocrinologists. Another area of interest for these doctors is sexual hormone dysfunction that leads to early or late puberty or puberty failure. Patients with short stature, ambiguous genitalia, or Vitamin D deficiency may be seen by such doctors.
The pediatric endocrinologist’s job is to figure out what hormones or other elements are missing from the body or are present in excessive amounts. The solutions to these shortages or oversupply can be varied. When blood tests reveal imbalances, doctors may prescribe medications to correct the problem. They may also recommend other treatments, such as surgery. The removal of overly large thyroid glands, for example, could aid in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. After that, the endocrinologist would assist the patient in determining the best thyroid hormone supplementation to take for the rest of their lives after surgery.
Typically, a pediatric endocrinologist does not perform surgery, but they may choose to be present during surgeries on their patients if necessary. This specialty will typically work out of offices, either in conjunction with a larger hospital or independently. These doctors are scarce; people may require a referral to see one, and they may have to travel to a city where one practices. The majority of the time, these doctors will collaborate with larger hospitals in urban areas. Some doctors may choose to work in education or research instead of seeing patients once they have mastered this specialty.