Medical doctor facts for kids
The Doctor by Luke Fildes (detail)
|
|
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
| Names | Physician, medical practitioner, medical doctor or simply doctor |
|
Occupation type
|
Professional |
|
Activity sectors
|
Medicine, health care |
| Description | |
| Competencies | The ethics, art and science of medicine, analytical skills, critical thinking |
|
Education required
|
MBBS, MD, DO |
|
Fields of
employment |
Clinics, hospitals |
|
Related jobs
|
General practitioner
Family physician
|
A medical doctor (also called a physician) is a healthcare professional. They help people stay healthy and treat them when they are sick or hurt. Doctors learn a lot about the human body and how to fix problems with it.
To become a doctor, a person goes to medical school. This is a special college where they learn all about medicine. In the past, doctors often visited patients at their homes. Today, most doctors see patients in their offices or in hospitals. Doctors might also work for schools, sports teams, or even the military. They often work with nurses and other staff to care for patients.
Doctors help patients by figuring out what is wrong with them. This is called diagnosing. First, they ask about the patient's symptoms. Symptoms are things like fever or pain that show you are sick. They might also ask about past illnesses or if family members have been sick.
Next, the doctor will examine the patient. They might look at different parts of the body. They also use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs. Sometimes, they need more information. They might take blood samples or use an x-ray machine. These tools help them see things they cannot see from the outside. Once they have enough information, doctors can usually make a diagnosis. Then, they decide on the best treatment. Often, this means prescribing drugs to help the patient get better.
Different Kinds of Doctors
Some doctors choose to focus on certain areas of medicine. These doctors are called specialists. They might treat only specific parts of the body. Or they might treat only patients with certain diseases. For example, some doctors specialize in problems with the stomach or intestines.
Other doctors are called "general practitioners" or "family practitioners." These doctors handle a wide range of health problems. They try to help patients with as many issues as possible. If a problem is too specific, they will send the patient to a specialist.
Types of Medical Specialists
Here are some examples of different types of specialists:
- Anesthesiologist: This doctor gives special medicine called anaesthesia. This medicine makes sure patients don't feel pain during surgery.
- Dentist: A dentist focuses on your teeth, gums, and mouth. They help prevent and treat problems in your oral cavity.
- Ophthalmologist: This doctor specializes in treating your eyes. They help with vision problems and eye diseases.
- Podiatrist: A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in treating feet problems.
- Psychiatrist: This doctor helps people with mental illness. They can prescribe special medicines to help with thoughts and feelings.
- Surgeon: A surgeon is a doctor who performs surgery. This means they operate on the body to fix problems.
Related Pages
Images for kids
-
Francesco Redi was an Italian doctor. He was one of the first to study parasites.
-
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female doctor in the United States.
-
Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, a large teaching hospital.
