儿科

儿科 focuses on the health care of infants, children, and adolescents. The smaller body of an infant is substantially different physiologically from that of an adult. Besides the usual range of care offered, practitioners with a pediatric specialty particularly focus on congenital defects, 遗传方差, behavioral and developmental issues. 儿科学的一大重点是健康维护、预期指导和父母咨询. 还需要对家庭制度进行评价，以确定儿童的保健和发展需要.

童年是身体各系统发育和成熟最快的时期. 专门从事儿科的从业人员接受教育，认识到这些系统的正常变体与需要特殊评估和治疗的疾病相关或引起的实际情况之间的差异.

Privacy issues and legal responsibilities are respected. Children are minors and therefore are unable to make decisions for themselves. 因此, 主要照顾者参与涉及儿童的护理和决策的所有方面.