Definition: Paediatric refers to the branch of medicine dealing with the health and medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. It involves the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and conditions affecting young people from birth up to the age of 18.
Etymology and Origin: The term ‘paediatric’ comes from the Greek words ‘pais‘, meaning ‘child’, and ‘iatros’, meaning ‘doctor’ or ‘healer’. Therefore, it directly translates to ‘a doctor for children’. The practice and study of paediatrics emerged as a specialized field in the early 19th century, reflecting the need for specific medical attention to the health and developmental needs of children.
