Text A. Pediatrics

The word pediatrics and its cognates mean healer of children; they derive from two Greek words: παῖdh (pais = child) and ιατρός (iatros = doctor or healer). Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. The upper age limit ranges from age 14 to 18, depending on the country. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician (also spelled peadiatrician).

Pediatrics differs from adult medicine in many respects. The obvious body size differences are paralleled by maturational changes. The smaller body of infants or neonate is substantially different physiologically from that of an adult. Congenital defects, genetic variance, and developmental issues are of greater concern to pediatricians than they often are to adult physicians. Infectious diseases, immunisations, and many inherited diseases are also dealt with primarily by pediatricians.

Childhood is the period of greatest growth, development and maturation of the various organ systems in the body. Years of training and experience (above and beyond basic medical training) goes into recognizing the differrence between normal variants and what is actually pathologic.

Specialist pediatricians may undergo further training in sub-specialties. Practising a subspecialty in pediatrics is similar in some respects to practising the relevant adult specialty, but a major difference is in the pattern of disease. Typically, diseases commonly seen in children are rare in adults (eg bronchiolitis), and those seen in adults are rare in children (eg coronary artery disease). Hence, pediatric cardiologists deal with the heart conditions of children, particularly congenital heart defects, and pediatric oncologists most often treat types of cancer that are relatively common in children (eg certain leukemias, lymphomas, and sarcomas), but which are rarely seen in the adults. Every sub-specialty of adult medicine exists in pediatrics (with the obvious exception of geriatrics).

Adolescent medicine is a growing sub-specialty. The pattern of diseases in adolescents in part resembles that seen in older adults, and specialists or sub-specialists in adolescent medicine are also drawn from practitioners of internal medicine or family medicine. Another major sub-specialty, which is unique to pediatrics, is neonatology: the medical care of newborn babies.

8. Answer the questions using the text:

1. What language does the word pediatrics come from? Give its definition.

2. Who is a pediatrician?

3. Is the upper age limit similar in all countries? What is it in Russia?

4. Why does pediatrics differ from adult medicine?

5. What issues are of great concern to pediatrician?

6. What does pediatric cardiologist (oncologist) deal with?

7. Does every sub-specialty of adult medicine exist in pediatrics?

8. What is adolescent medicine?

9. What does neonatology deal with?

9. Translate word combinations into English using active vocabulary:

1. новорожденный; 2. иметь дело; 3. подросток; 4. отличаться от; 5. узкая специальность; 6. детский кардиолог; 7. шаблон заболевания; 8. пройти дальнейшую подготовку; 9. существовать в педиатрии; 10. очевидное различие; 11. детство.

10. Replace the word combinations in bold type with active vocabulary. Translate the sentences:

1. Pediatrics is a relatively new division of medicine, developing only in the mid-1800s. 2. Neonatology concerns with the medical care of newborn babies. 3. Pediatrics and adult medicine varies in many respects. 4. Adolescent medicine is a narrow specialty of pediatrics. 5. The questions of legal responsibility and informed consent must always be considered in every pediatric procedure. 6. Pediatriciansmust undertake further training in their chosen field. 7. The pathologic conditions of children aged from 12 to 18 years are mainly functional disturbances of various organs. 8. Inborn defects and genetic variance are of concern to pediatricians.

11. Agree or disagree. Use the given expressions:

Quite so. I’m afraid you’re mistaken.

You’re quite right. As for me I don’t think so.

I agree completely. I’m afraid I can’t agree with you.

1. The specialty of pediatrics is very different to adult medicine, as children grow, change, and mature. 2. The most important thing to remember during your time as a student is that pediatrics should above all be pleasurable. 3. A doctor shouldn’t include a child in the conversation during a consultation. 4. Style and approach to history taking and examination depends very much on the child's age. 5. Pediatrics began its development as a science in the 17^th century. 6. The child’s history is mostly obtained from a parent.