Paediatrics and Child Health
Degrees offered: B.A., B.A.(Hons), B.Sc., B.Sc.(Hons), B.Voc., D.M., Diploma
What is Paediatrics and Child Health
Paediatrics deals with the health of children from birth till adolescence. The word “paediatrics” is derived from the Greek words ‘pais’ which means ‘child’ and ‘iatros’ which means ‘healer’. It is the science of treating pediatric diseases. Paediatricians are doctors who are responsible for diagnosing and identifying the various diseases in child patients and prescribe the necessary treatment and medicines. A paediatrician’s job is to communicate a child’s health to the parents and deal with children according to child psychology.
To practice as a paediatrician, one needs to hold MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) and then complete M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) in Paediatrics and Child Health. Paediatricians treat diseases like Fever, Chickenpox, Leukaemia, Measles, and other infections. One can build a career in child healthcare without an MBBS and MD degree also. People who are not doctors and wish to make a career in this field can do a Diploma in Child Health (DCH) at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, for the PG Diploma, an MBBS degree is required to be eligible. The course of M.D. (Paediatrics and Child Health) focuses on the study of causes and treatments of the illnesses in children and the various tools methods used to produce paediatricians who can look after the child's healthcare.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Paediatrics and Child Health
The eligibility criteria for getting admission in M.D. (Paediatrics and Child Health) is as follows:
Compulsory subjects in 12th include Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with at least 50% marks
Minimum 55% marks in MBBS degree attained from a reputed college
A one-year mandatory internship should be completed
For Diploma in Child Health, the eligibility criteria are:
UG – Candidate must have completed 12th with Science
PG – Candidate must be MBBS holder
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Entrance Exams for Paediatrics and Child Health
Some common entrance exams are:
National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET PG) - NEET PG Exam is a common entrance test for admission into PG courses across India conducted by National Board of Examinations (NBE).
All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance Exam (AIPGMEE)- Conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), this exam is also a common entrance test for different PG courses in colleges across India.
College-specific exams are:
Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) Entrance Exam- Located in Pondicherry, JIPGMER is a medical school providing postgraduate medical courses. They conduct a separate medical entrance exam for admission into PG courses.
AIIMS PG - This is an entrance exam conducted by AIIMS for PG medical courses only for admission in the 13 AIIMS located all over India.
Some other separate exams are conducted by AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College), Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh and many others.
Some universities give direct admission to students of MBBS to M.D. (Paediatrics and Child Health) based on their merit.
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Scope of Paediatrics and Child Health in India and Abroad
Childcare is one of the major concerns in the world. Since a child is born, parents take extra care and ensure that their child is healthy while growing up. Paediatricians are consulted all over the world for regular health checkups, treatment of diseases in children and general guidance. The course enables you to guide parents and families about a child’s health and what measures to be taken for preventing pediatric diseases.
Pediatric knowledge is required in many domains like hospitals, clinics, colleges, universities and even in schools. Schools call up pediatricians for periodic health checkups of the students to ensure their overall health. All this makes Paediatrics and Child Health scope very vast in India and abroad. It is a field full of opportunities.
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Course Fees Paediatrics and Child Health
Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Private | Government | Private | Government | |
UG | ||||
PG | ||||
DOCTORAL | ||||
DIPLOMA |
Course Subjects
The subjects covered in M.D. (Paediatrics and Child Health) involve the topics of overall growth and development of a child. The topics range from physical to psychological areas, along with practical subjects to include all aspects of child care. The major subjects in the course are as follows:
- CNS (Central Nervous System)
- Growth and Development
- Child Psychology
- Neonatology
- Behavioural Disorders
- Developmental Disorders
- Social Pediatrics
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease
- Infections (Neonatal infections)
- Renal Disorders
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Nutrition
- Cardiovascular
- Genetics
- Respiratory
- Endocrinology
- Haematology
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Fetus and Newborn
- Adolescent Health
- Skin Diseases
- ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)
- Eye Diseases
- Orthopaedics
- Digestive System
- Urological Disorders
- Psychological Disorders
- Social Issues: Children with special needs
Careers in Paediatrics and Child Health
A career after grabbing the M.D. (Paediatrics and Child Health) degree isn’t only limited to roles like paediatricians. There are more job varieties available like being a Neonatology doctor, consultant, lecturer in colleges and universities, etc. You can also choose further specialities like being a Pediatric-Cardiologist, Pediatric-Surgeon, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, Pediatric-Endocrinologists, and Pediatric-Orthopedics, etc.
The field of Paediatrics and Child Health has immense opportunities, provided you should be skilled and trained enough to serve what is needed from you. If your knowledge and hands-on practice are good, you will bag a good career in this field.
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Upcoming trends
Technology has taken over every industry in the world for the convenience of humans. In Pediatrics also, advancements in technology have been seen over the years, and we continue to see them. Some of them are:
Smart Pill – It comes with a sensor which enables a doctor to know the patient’s condition from a distance.
3D Printing in Pediatric Cardiology – 3D Printed Heart Model is used in heart-related diseases in children.
Advanced Imaging and Modelling – helps in surgeries
Graphene Patch – an electronic skin patch which helps in monitoring glucose levels in blood and sweat.
CHAMP App – made specifically for children suffering from a single ventricle heart defect. It enables remote monitoring of the child.
Motio HealthWear Watch – it is a smartwatch which enhances sleep quality.
Double Hand Transplant
Cloud-based technology thermometer – enables parents to record their child’s parameters like temperature, breathing sounds from certain points on the chest.
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Children with Development Challenges | Handling Children In A Healthcare Setting |
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Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
The top job profiles for people with M.D. in Pediatrics are:
Paediatricians
Pharmacy manager
Neonatology Doctor
Consultant
Professors
Critical Care Pediatricians
Job Profile | Description |
Responsible for diagnosing pediatric diseases and treating them. | |
Neonatology Doctor | Responsible for the healthcare of newborn babies and their treatment. |
Researcher | Responsible for clinical trials of new tools and therapies used in pediatric treatment. |
Critical Care Pediatrician | Responsible for looking after children going through life-threatening illnesses. |
Professor | Responsible for teaching students pursuing medical courses. |
Top recruiters for Paediatrics and Child Health are:
- AIIMS
- P.D. Hinduja Hospital
- Apollo’s Children Hospital
- Rainbow Hospital for Women & Children
- Christian Medical Hospital
- Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
- Indraprastha Apollo Hospital
People with Diploma in Child Health (DCH) can be Nutrition Specialists, Personal Physicians, Professors in Hospitals, Clinics, Community Health Centers, Mental Health Centers, Child Health Centers Medical Colleges, etc.
Also Read: Online Paediatrics And Child Health Courses & Certifications
Average Salary
The average salaries of some job profiles in this field are mentioned below. The figures are only for reference.
Job Profile | Average Salary |
Paediatrician | Rs. 10 to 30 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Neonatology Doctor | Rs. 12 to 24 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Lecturers | Rs. 6-10 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Consultant | Rs. 5-10 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Paediatrics and Child Health
For dealing with children and their growth and development daily, a candidate pursuing M.D. in Paediatrics and Child Health must be having the following skills:
Good training in childcare and knowledge of medical subjects
Patience, empathy and politeness are the skills which will ensure the trust of the child patient on you. The child should feel safe and fearless while being treated.
Effective communication skills and interpersonal skills to convey to the parents about the health of their child.
Course Curriculum for Paediatrics and Child Health
The MBBS degree is of five years in which basics of medicine and surgery are taught. Four years of MBBS consist of academics and practical activities, and the last year is for a mandatory internship. After MBBS, M.D. (Paediatrics and Child Health) course is of three years. In the course, child psychology, along with various other subjects, are taught. Research work is mandatory in this course under the guidance of a mentor.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Are international students considered for the MD course?
Answer :
Yes, foreign students are considered. But the number of students from foreign who get admission here is very less.
Question: What are the challenges faced by Pediatricians?
Answer :
Dealing with children is not an easy task. Along with that, communicating with the child patient’s parents is also challenging as sometimes it is difficult to convey to them important information or convince them for something.
Question: What equipment do Pediatricians use?
Answer :
They generally use a stethoscope, reflex hammers, thermometers, etc. to diagnose some common problems. For sever problems, other machines and tools are used for conducting tests.
Question: How are the ‘Paediatrics and Child Health’ course different?
Answer :
The course teaches you how to treat pediatric diseases, i.e. diseases faced in childhood. This makes you deal with children and understand their psychology.
Question: What is the difference between DCH and MD?
Answer :
MD is a three-year course while DCH is a two-year course. Moreover, you need to write a thesis in MD, unlike in DCH.