A paediatric surgeon is a specialist who diagnoses and treats various paediatric surgical problems. These may be congenital diseases, conditions or injuries that may require surgery. During consultations, the doctor can assess the child's condition, establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. You can book a consultation with a paediatric surgeon even without a referral from a family doctor.

Which conditions does a paediatric surgeon diagnose and treat?

• diagnosis of acute abdominal pain;
• diagnosis of acute scrotal pain;
• umbilical, inguinal and linea alba hernias;
• knee puncture in the case of haemarthrosis;
• preventive examination of a newborn - the bone and muscle system;
• hip ultrasound;
• ultrasound of the skin and subcutaneous growths;
• removal of a foreign body;
• removal of stitches;
• wound suturing;
• immobilisation with a plaster splint;
• incision (opening) of an abscess;
• marginal resection of an ingrown nail under local anaesthesia;
• wound dressing;
• dressing of a burn wound;
• umbilical and umbilical-cord pathology (a cord that does not separate for a long time, a weeping navel, an umbilical polyp).

Which surgical cases are most common in children?

The most common reasons parents turn to a paediatric surgeon are minor infections, abscesses on the fingers, armpit abscesses, ingrown nails, and also the preventive check-ups of infants (aged 1-3 months).

A paediatric surgeon consultation is often needed to diagnose an inguinal hernia, which manifests as a bulge in the groin area. If you have noticed such bulges appearing when the child coughs or cries, even if they disappear when lying down or with gentle pressure, it is advisable to see a paediatric surgeon for a consultation without delay.