Difference between Pediatrician and Child Specialist

Key Difference: A pediatrician refers to a physician who provides medical care to the children and infants. On the other hand, a child specialist refers to a mental health practitioner who provides a mental therapy to children whose parents are involved in separation and divorce procedures. Commonly, child specialist is also used to refer to a pediatrician. In U.K., pediatrician term is used to refer to child life specialists who work on cognitive, emotional and physical development related issues of children.

Pediatrician refers to a physician who provides medical treatment and care for children. The word has been derived from pediatrics which refers to the branch of medicine dealing with care of children and infants. The word pediatrics has been derived from Greek words pais meaning child and iatros meaning doctor or healer.

A pediatrician takes care of all range of health related isses of children. They may be regarding treatment of a severe disease or regarding providing preventive health services.

A need of a specialized doctor for children arises due to the fact that there are several physiological differences between an adult and a child or infant. After completing graduation from a medical school, a pediatric needs to complete a pediatric program or course from a certified school.

Pediatrician may be used to refer to a primary care pediatrician, pediatric medical subspecialist, and pediatric surgical specialist. In U.K., a pediatrician is referred to a child life specialist who helps young patients by making them and their families understand about the medical procedures which this young patient needs to face in order to get the treatment. They work as a counselor in this role.

A child specialist may refer to a pediatrician or a registered mental health practitioner who help children in cases where parents are separating and taking a divorce. In the role of a mental health practitioner, a child specialist must have a training providing specialization in child therapy and development. They act as a neutral third party and are mainly concerned with needs and interests of children. They ensure that needs of such a child are being met properly.

Commonly, pediatrician and child specialist simply refer to a doctor providing treatment to the children. However, child specialist is also used in context to a mental health practicioner and this table reflects the differences based on this definition.

Comparison between Pediatrician and Child Specialist:

	Pediatrician	Child Specialist
Definition	A pediatrician refers to a physician who provides medical care to the children and infants.	A child specialist refers to a mental health practitioner who provides a mental therapy to children whose parents are involved in separation and divorce procedures.
Qualification	After completing graduation from a medical school, a pediatric needs to complete a pediatric program or course from a certified school.	A child specialist must have a training providing specialization in child therapy and development.
Other meaning	In U.K, it may refer to a child care specialist who works on cognitive, emotional and physical development related issues of children.	Sometimes, child specialist is also used to refer to a pediatrician.
Main role	To provide preventive health maintenance for healthy children. To provide medical care for acutely or chronically ill children.	Help the child to cope up with the parent’s divorce. Act as a neutral party. Help parents in arriving a child sharing schedule if required.