Find top-rated pediatricians in Pasadena, TX

What is a pediatrician?

Pediatricians are medical doctors (MDs) with the specialized training and clinical experience to provide primary care for children. Pediatricians offer diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive medicine for young people from infancy through adolescence.

To become a pediatrician, candidates must undergo over a decade of schooling and clinical training. In addition, before becoming board-certified, a pediatrician must:

• Complete a four-year undergraduate degree featuring pre-medical courses like biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus.
  
• Complete four years of medical school with a full course load and clinical rotation experience (time spent as a member of a medical team)
  
• Complete a three-year residency providing primary and intensive care for children of all ages (newborns to adolescents)
  
  

As primary care providers, pediatricians perform several medical procedures and practices. These include:

• Performing physical exams and wellness check-ups (well visits)
  
• Giving immunizations (vaccinations) for diseases such as hepatitis B, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), rotavirus, and more
  
• Conducting speech therapy when appropriate
  
• Offering guidance for pain management
  
• Checking for milestones in skills, behavior, and growth
  
• Working with parents to monitor their child’s development
  
• Diagnosing and treating diseases, including illness, infection, and injuries
  
  

Like other primary care providers, pediatricians as the initial point of contact for a family with the rest of the health care system. This means your child will usually see a pediatrician before seeing any specialists. If a more specific form of treatment is needed, a pediatrician will offer a referral to the appropriate specialist.

What are the different types of pediatric subspecialties?

Types of pediatric specialists include:

• Pediatric urgent care: Pediatric urgent care specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of non-emergency medical issues in children
  
• Neonatology: The care of infants before and after birth
  
• Developmental & behavioral pediatrics: Care of children with developmental and behavioral disorders
  
• Child abuse pediatrics: Care of children who may be victims of abuse or neglect
  
• Pediatric cardiologists: Care for children with heart ailments
  
• Pediatric endocrinologists: Health care for children with hormonal disorders and disorders of the endocrine system, including diabetes
  
• Pediatric gastroenterologists: Care for children with gastrointestinal disorders
  
• Pediatric oncologists: Care for children with cancer
  
• Pediatric orthopedists: Care for children with musculoskeletal problems
  
• Pediatric neurologists: Care for children with neurological disorders
  
• Pediatric nephrologists: Care for children with conditions related to the kidney and urinary tract
  
• Pediatric pulmonologists: Care for children with conditions related to the lungs and respiratory system
  
• Pediatric urologists: Care for children with conditions related to the urinary tract and genitals
  
• Pediatric rheumatologists: Care for children with disorders such as acute arthritis and chronic rheumatoid arthritis
  
  

What conditions do pediatricians treat?

As fully licensed primary care providers, pediatricians have the training and experience to treat hundreds—if not thousands—of conditions in young people from infancy to adolescence and from all backgrounds.

Common conditions treated by pediatricians include:

• The common cold/ flu
  
• Sore throat/ strep throat
  
• Stomach flu (gastroenteritis)
  
• Bronchitis
  
• Ear infections
  
• Skin infections (like impetigo)
  
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  
• Sinus infections
  
• Bladder infections (UTIs)
  
• Chickenpox
  
  

In addition to treating acute illnesses like those listed above, pediatricians play a crucial role in managing chronic conditions in children.

Chronic conditions commonly seen in children include:

• Diabetes
  
• Asthma
  
• Cystic fibrosis
  
• Epilepsy
  
• Obesity
  
  

How do pediatricians diagnose and treat childhood obesity?

To diagnose obesity, pediatricians will calculate a child’s body mass index (BMI) and compare that figure to the recommended BMI for children of that age. If a child’s BMI is in the 85-94th percentile, that child is considered overweight. If their BMI is 95% or higher, that child has obesity.

When diagnosing obesity, a pediatrician will also consider familial and developmental factors, like body frame.

If a child is diagnosed with obesity, pediatricians will work with the family to modify eating habits and increase physical activity to help the child lose weight.

Booking Pediatric Care on Sesame

With pediatricians and primary care physicians across the Houston metropolitan area, Sesame offers convenient in-person and video consultations (often with same-day availability) in your neighborhood.

How to schedule an appointment:

• Search "Pediatrician" in Sesame’s search bar
  
• Explore the list of nearby service providers
  
• Choose from video or in-person services
  
• Choose a time that best accommodates your schedule
  
• Book your visit!
  
  

Sesame offers both in-person and online visits. If you book a video appointment, you will receive an email with a link to join the visit. You will also be able to access this link in another reminder email you will receive 30 minutes before the appointment start time and within your account.