A Pediatric Cardiologist is a physician who treats children with heart disease.
There are a number of heart conditions like congenital heart defects, abnormal heart rhythm, disease of the heart valves, coronary artery disease, heart attacks and disease of the blood vessels.
The pediatric cardiologist specializes in treating these and other heart related conditions in children and adolescents.
Heart disease can start as early as when a child is still a fetus in the womb.
This is known as a congenital heart disorder, since it is present at birth.
Another type of heart disease is an acquired heart disease, which affects young children and adolescents.
What is a Pediatric Cardiologist? Pediatric Cardiologists are very similar to regular cardiologists except for the fact that they treat children with heart disease instead of adults.
To become a pediatric cardiologist in the US, a person needs to complete more than 7 years of medical schooling as well as post graduate training.
They also need board certification in Internal Medicine.
They would then spend three to five more years studying conditions specific to the heart, the blood vessels and blood circulation.
Apart from physiology and anatomy, a pediatric cardiologist also needs to be familiar with the use of modern computerized diagnostic equipment.
A pediatric cardiologist in the US earns anywhere between $200,000 to $350,000 per annum, with most physicians averaging at about $235,000 per year.
They are sometimes called by different names such as child cardiologist, Physician - Pediatric Cardiology or Doctor - Pediatric Cardiology.
When is it necessary to see a Pediatric Cardiologist There can be a few symptoms that indicate an acquired heart problem in a child.
Syncope or fainting episodes can indicate a heart condition, but syncope or loss of consciousness can also be triggered by other factors.
Syncope normally occurs when the brain fails to receive a sufficient quantity of blood.
Electric malfunctioning or poor contraction of the heart can result in deprived flow of blood to the brain, causing the child to lose consciousness.
Syncope can therefore be an indication of a heart condition, although it can also be triggered by neurological problems in the brain.
Chest pain can also indicate the presence of a heart condition in a child.
However, chest pain is a more sure indicator of heart problems in adults than in children.
Various other problems apart from heart conditions can also give rise to chest pain in children, making it an unreliable indication of a heart problem.
Nevertheless, if the pain persists for a long period of time, it is wise to visit a child cardiologist.
A pediatric cardiologist can diagnose a heart condition in the child and provide appropriate treatment.
Early diagnosis and proper treatment can offer a better life for the child.