pediatrics

/ˈpidiˌætrɪks/

/pidiˈætrɪks/

If you're taking a little kid to the doctor, look for a sign that says pediatrics. Physicians who treat children and babies specialize in pediatrics.

Different branches of medicine focus on different groups of people or specific illnesses. While pediatrics is all about young people from birth to their teens, geriatrics, for example, focuses on elderly people. A medical student who specializes in pediatrics will eventually be a pediatrician, or children's doctor. The root of pediatrics is the Greek word for "child," pais.

Definitions of pediatrics

1. noun

   the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of infants and children
   synonyms: paediatrics, pediatric medicine, pedology

   types:

   neonatology

   that branch of pediatric medicine concerned with the newborn; the diagnosis and treatment of neonates

   type of:

   medical specialty, medicine

   the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques