Pediatrics

The paediatrician: a growth follow-up, not only a sick visit

Paediatrics is not adult medicine at a smaller dose: a child changes week by week, and what is normal at three months is not at three years. So the work splits in two — regular follow-up of growth and vaccination even when nothing is wrong, and care for the common illnesses when they arrive.

What this specialist handles

Growth follow-up: weight, height and head circumference plotted on a curve, plus motor and language milestones.
The national vaccination schedule and upkeep of the health record book.
Common childhood illness: ear and throat infections, chest infections, diarrhoea and dehydration.
Feeding and breastfeeding difficulties, poor appetite, slow weight gain.
Back-to-school check-ups and sports certificates.
Early referral to a speech therapist, an eye specialist or another discipline when a delay is spotted.

When to book

Scheduled follow-up and vaccination visits, including when the child seems perfectly well.
A fever that drags on, a cough that will not settle, repeated diarrhoea.
Worry about weight, appetite, sleep, walking or speech.
Before the school year starts or before joining a sports club.

What the visit looks like

The appointment opens with measurements: weight, height and head circumference, plotted on the curve so they can be compared with last time. The child health record book is therefore the most important thing to bring — without it, half the information is missing.

Then comes an examination adapted to the child’s age, and a conversation with the parents — and, past a certain age, with the child. Say what worries you even if it sounds minor: what a parent notices day to day usually comes before what shows up in the consulting room.

Booking on Maouidi

Install the Maouidi app on Android and create an account with your phone number.
Search by specialty, then filter by wilaya.
Open the practitioner or clinic profile: address, services, and how they take bookings.
Pick your slot. Some practitioners work in fixed time slots, others hand out queue numbers for the day — the app shows which one each of them uses.
Confirm. The appointment appears in the app, together with your queue number if the practitioner works that way.
Turn up at the time or the number shown. Consultations are paid at the clinic. If something comes up, cancel in the app ahead of time so the place goes to someone else.

Paediatric appointments fill up fast at the start of the school year and through winter. If the practitioner works with queue numbers, waiting with an infant can be long — check the profile in the app and choose accordingly.

Get the app

Common questions

Up to what age do children see a paediatrician?

From birth through adolescence in general, with the upper limit varying between practitioners. If your child is near that line, the simplest thing is to ask the practice when you book.

My child has a fever — appointment or emergency?

A newborn of a few weeks, or a child who is breathing hard, looks very drowsy or refuses to drink, needs emergency care straight away rather than an appointment. A fever the child tolerates, while staying reasonably active, is usually seen in a normal consultation. This is general information and does not replace an examination.

Do I need the health record book every time?

Yes. It holds the growth curve and the vaccination history — the two references used to compare today with last time. If it has been lost, tell the practice in advance.