Pediatricians who specialize in nutrition and metabolic diseases are doctors who have special expertise to treat health problems that include nutrition and metabolism of children's bodies. At the hospital, this subspecialty doctor belongs to the pediatrician department.
Prior to obtaining a subspecialty degree in nutrition and metabolic disease, a general practitioner must continue his study of a specialist doctor education program in the field of pediatrics to obtain the title of pediatrician (Sp.A). After that, he continued his studies by deepening knowledge related to nutrition and metabolism of children.
The Role of Pediatrician Nutritionist and Metabolic Disease
In addition to having the competence of a general practitioner and pediatrician, a pediatrician who specializes in nutrition and metabolic diseases also has the competence to manage problems related to nutrition and metabolism of children. Some of the roles of pediatric nutritionists and metabolic diseases specialists are:
- Provide consultation and education services regarding children's nutrition and metabolism
- Reviewing the nutritional and metabolic status of children, as well as the factors that influence them
- Designing nutritional therapy and certain eating patterns, for example prescribing the amount of carbohydrates, calories, protein, fiber, fat, and vitamins and minerals that children need
- Determine how to provide good nutrition according to the child's health condition
- Perform early examination of newborns to identify the presence of congenital metabolic disease
- Perform comprehensive diagnostic tests on patients with a suspected diagnosis of congenital metabolic disease
- Planning treatment in children with congenital metabolic disease
Diseases Treated by Pediatricians Nutritionists and Metabolic Diseases
In addition to providing consulting services related to nutrition and metabolism, as well as designing diet plans, pediatricians who specialize in nutrition and metabolic diseases can treat certain health conditions, such as:
- Malnutrition, either due to poor nutrition or obesity
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia
- Phenylketonuria
- Homocystinuria
- Maple syrup urine disease
- Urea catabolism disorders
- Galactosemia
- Diabetes
- cystic fibrosis
- Gaucher's disease
- Hemochromatosis
- Sickle cell anemia
- Glycogen storage disorders
- Amino acid disorders, such as tyrosinemia
- Malabsorption of glucose and galactose
When Should You See a Pediatrician, a Nutritionist and Metabolic Disease Specialist?
Not getting enough nutrition and suffering from metabolic diseases can certainly interfere with a child's growth and development. Therefore, you are advised to immediately take your child to a pediatrician who specializes in nutrition and metabolic disease if he experiences the following symptoms:
- Weight is not appropriate for age (thinner or fatter)
- Difficult to gain weight
- Significant weight loss for no apparent reason
- No appetite or excessive appetite
- His eating ability is not like other children
- Abnormalities in urination and defecation
- Digestive disorders that affect appetite or body weight
- Unable to do things that are common for children his age
Before meeting with a pediatrician who specializes in nutrition and metabolic diseases, it is best to bring a record of the complaints and symptoms experienced by the child, as well as a detailed medical history of the child and parents. This will make it easier for the doctor to diagnose the disease experienced by the child.
In addition, also include a list of drugs and supplements consumed by the child, history of pregnancy and childbirth, growth and development status, and completeness of immunizations.
It is advised not to delay taking your child to a pediatrician with a nutritionist and metabolic disease specialist if he or she experiences any of the above-mentioned complaints. The sooner you take him to the doctor, the disease will be detected as early as possible and easier to treat.
