Pediatrics and Child Health Terms

Health terminology concerning infants, children, and adolescents. Browse definitions and meanings below.

54 terms

What is pediatrics?

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine caring for people from birth through adolescence. It exists as a separate field because a growing body is not a scaled-down adult one: organs mature at different rates, doses are calculated by weight, and normal values for pulse, breathing and blood pressure shift year by year.

Age vocabulary is exact here in a way it is not elsewhere. Neonate covers the first month, infant the first year, and terms such as preterm and term describe the point of birth. These are definitions rather than loose descriptions, because so much of what counts as normal depends on which one applies.

Terms in this topic

Alphabetical order

For learning, not diagnosis. This glossary provides general educational information and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you may be experiencing a medical emergency, contact local emergency services.