Hebiatra is a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent medicine who accompanies young people between 10 and 20 years of age. This physician is responsible for following the physical and psychosocial development of the adolescent, verifying their growth, behavior and sexual life.
Areas of practice of the hebiatra
The hepatitis agent is responsible for:
- Monitoring adolescent growth,
- Prevention and treatment of diseases of young people.
- Sexuality and drug use,
- Eating, exercising, and body-related concerns.
The hebiatra also has as a function to prescribe the vaccines that must be given in adolescence. Another area in which hebiatra works is the adolescent's psychological development, and should be attentive and discuss issues related to the social and psychological sphere of the youngster, seeking to clarify fears, doubts or possible cases of psychological pressure.
The first consultation with the hebiatra must be performed at the onset of puberty, usually around 9 or 10 years, and should be repeated after 6 months. The first consultation is divided into 3 parts:
- Conversation with parents and teenagers;
- Talk alone with parents;
- Talk to the teenager alone.
After this first contact, the adolescent should go at least once a year to the hepatic doctor for routine consultation.
Where to Find a Hebiatra
The hebiatra physician, specialized in adolescent medicine, can be easily consulted both in public hospitals and in private clinics throughout Brazil. The hebiatra in São Paulo can be found in Hospital das Clínicas or Hospital de Santa Catarina, for example.