The noble medical profession broadly diverges into two significant categories namely primary care doctors and specialists. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t aware of this diversification and hierarchy. As a result, they end up consulting the wrong doctor for treating their ailments. In this article, you’ll get a clearer view of the different kinds of doctors and the diseases that they are qualified to treat.
A primary care doctor helps you with preventive care including annual check-ups, blood tests, routine screenings and immunizations. Primary care should always be your first call in emergencies. Primary doctors are classified in the following manner based on the age group of people they’re treating:
Paediatricians
They are specially trained medical practitioners who work with infants, adolescents and young adults. Paediatricians understand the fact that children undergo rapid physical and mental changes in their growth years. Primary care paediatrics deal in medical conditions like:
- Giving timely vaccinations
- Treating child injuries like dislocations and fractures
- Prescribing medications such as pain relievers and antibiotics
- Evaluating a child’s emotional, mental and physical development
Other than the primary care paediatricians, there are specialist paediatrics who treat critical care, developmental behaviour and child abuse. Medicine-paediatrics doctors, paediatric oncologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, neurologists and gastroenterologists diagnose and treat advanced medical conditions in children.
Family medicine doctors
These medical practitioners provide care to people of all age groups. They are generalists that treat chronic conditions, evaluate symptoms, offer preventive care and advise their patients if and when they need a specialist. Family physicians deal in everything from healthy life counselling to health risk assessments and treatment of common chronic conditions. If they feel you need to visit a specialist, they might recommend you to:
- Psychiatrists
- Cardiologists
- Gynaecologist
- Endocrinologists
If your health condition isn’t very severe, a family medicine doctor can provide you medication for simple sprains, fractures, cold, pneumonia, bronchitis and seasonal allergies & infections – without having to refer you to a specialist.
OB-Gynaecologist
Many people aren’t aware of how an obstetrician is different from a gynaecologist! Yes, they hold different specializations. An obstetrician specializes in delivering babies and providing expert prenatal, antenatal and postnatal medical care to women. Obstetricians also treat pregnancy related medical conditions like ectopic pregnancy, foetal distress, placental abruption, uterine rupture and obstetrical haemorrhage to name a few.
While obstetricians deal solely with pregnancy, gynaecologists cover all the other aspects of a female reproductive system. They specialize in the treatment of women’s reproductive and sexual health. Gynaecologists perform a variety of tests and exams like pelvic exams, cancer screenings and testing for vaginal infections on women to ensure their reproductive health. They diagnose reproductive system disorders such as:
- Infertility
- Pelvic pain
- Ovarian cysts
- Endometriosis
If a gynaecologist also has expertise in obstetrics, they’re called an OB-GYN.
Geriatricians
They treat older adults with complex health needs. With expertise in dealing with people having multiple health conditions, geriatricians help elderly people manage:
- Nutrition
- Incontinence
- Mobility and frailty issues
- Dementia and other cognitive problems
If an elderly member in your house is facing cognitive decline or requires multiple medications, it is advisable to visit a geriatric. A geriatric specialist recognises and understands the importance of maintaining independent living and social support in older adults.
At Healpha, primary care specialities are given utmost importance. Our expert team of primary care medical practitioners and specialists are available at your service 24*7! From paediatrics to gynaecologists to geriatricians, we cover all kinds of expert medical aid under one roof. Visit our website to know more.
Read more: Why Is Pediatric Consultation Important?
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