Paediatricians are physicians who care for the health of children from the moment of birth up until, and sometimes beyond the patient’s 18th birthday. Children can be fun to work with. However, they can also be shy, unable to communicate their problems and come with parents who may reasonable, angry or sadly, neglectful of their child. Paediatricians have excellent people skills by necessity and know how to manage children and parents no matter their state of mind or health. The role of the paediatrician is diverse and there are a wide range of subspecialties to choose from. Medical issues are not the only ones which need addressing. Often emotional, psychological or social and family problems are equally or more important for a child’s health and well being. This is a demanding a specialty requiring doctors who are astute observers of the entire gamut of biopsychosocial issues affecting the patients in their care.

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