Patients
Regular checkups are essential for children of all ages.
From infancy to adolescence, these visits help track their changing health needs, development, and wellbeing.
How a paediatrician supports child health
Most parents understand why regular checkups are important for babies. But many don’t realise that checkups should continue through childhood and into the teenage years, with the focus changing as the child grows and develops.
Regular paediatric checkups offer more than medical care. They’re also a chance for parents to ask questions, share concerns, get reassurance, and feel more confident about caring for their child.
This ongoing relationship is one of the reasons Dr Zamaswazi Ntombela, a paediatrician at Mediclinic Pietermaritzburg, was drawn to the field. “I’ve always had a passion for helping children and making a meaningful difference in their lives. Paediatrics allows me to follow this passion, while applying my medical knowledge.”
Dr Ntombela has a special interest lies in child growth and development, newborn and infant care, and common childhood illnesses. She is especially enthusiastic about early diagnosis and intervention, because this can make a real difference to a child’s long-term wellbeing.
The right care, at the right time
Dr Ntombela also enjoys guiding parents through each stage of their child’s development. As children grow, the focus of the checkup changes.
“At a baby’s visit, the priorities are growth, feeding, vaccinations and developmental milestones, while a visit for an older child may focus on physical growth, behaviour, learning, emotional wellbeing and age-appropriate development. For teenagers, we also look at physical and emotional health, puberty, nutrition, and general wellbeing.”
For children of all ages, a checkup involves more than a physical examination. “I assess whether the child is reaching the expected milestones for their age and identify any concerns. I also encourage parents to ask questions and share anything they may have noticed about their child’s development, behaviour, sleep, eating, or school performance.
“Every child develops at their own pace, so these visits are an opportunity to monitor progress, identify any concerns early, and provide the appropriate advice and support. My goal is for parents to leave the consultation feeling informed, reassured and confident about their child’s health and development.”
When should my child see a paediatrician?
Dr Ntombela acknowledges that parents may not always know whether to see a GP or a paediatrician. “A GP is often the first point of contact for common childhood illnesses such as colds, flu, mild infections, fever, or mild injury,” she advises. “They can also provide routine medical care and assess whether a child requires further specialist attention.”
A paediatrician should be consulted for more complex concerns, including ongoing medical conditions, recurrent illnesses, feeding difficulties, breathing problems, seizures, or when a GP recommends specialist care.
If you’re worried about your child’s health or development, seek medical advice. “The most important thing is recognising when your child needs medical attention and making sure they receive the right care at the right time.”
The future of child health in paediatrics
Dr Ntombela is also encouraged by new technologies that help doctors track children’s development, diagnose conditions earlier, and manage them more effectively.
“We’re also developing a greater understanding of the importance of supporting children’s mental and emotional health alongside their physical health. This is what excites me most about the future of paediatrics: we’re seeing a greater interest in care that focuses on the whole child; not only treating illness when it occurs, but identifying concerns early, supporting healthy development and working together with parents to give children the best possible start in life,” she says.