Pediatrics is the treatment of disorders and diseases in infants, children and adolescents. A pediatrician is primarily concerned with the influence of disease and dysfunction on a child’s development, from preventive care to treatment of diseases. This specialist has background knowledge regarding congenital defects, immunology, oncology, infectious diseases, immunizations, and disorders that are unique to children.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Guillain-Barrè Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, allergies, pink eye, Snoring, Scabies, Autism, Hypothyroidism, epilepsy, Leukemia, Asthma, lymphoma, chickenpox, Cushings Disease, Crohns Disease, Encopresis, Infant Reflux, measles, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and skin rash.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Circumcision, Tonsillectomy, Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA) repair, Appendectomy, Adenoid Removal, Umbilical Hernia Repair, Leg Lengthening, Inguinal Hernia Repair, Hydrocele Repair, Hypospadias Repair, Ear Tubes, Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair, cancer surgery, Minimal Access surgery, and Club Foot Repair.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including ultrasound, MRI scan, Barium Enema, Upper GI, x-ray, video swallow, and urine / stool collections.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Illinois has 2,737 practicing pediatricians. Broken out by city, pediatrics doctor density in Alton is 24, in Aurora is 52, in Batavia is 8, in Belleville is 13, in Belvidere is 6, in Berwyn is 16, in Bloomington is 35, in Blue Island is 6, in Breese is 1, in Burbank is 3, in Calumet City is 7, in Canton is 5, in Carbondale is 10, in Carlinville is 2, in Carlyle is 1, in Centralia is 3, in Champaign is 22, in Charleston is 2, in Chicago is 1,023, in Chicago Heights is 15, in Cicero is 12, in Clinton is 1, in Collinsville is 2, in Crest Hill is 3, in Crystal Lake is 40, in Danville is 18, in Darien is 16, in Decatur is 17, in Dekalb is 8, in Des Plaines is 31, in Dixon is 5, in East Moline is 10, in East Peoria is 2, in Edwardsville is 9, in Effingham is 9, in Elgin is 31, in Elmhurst is 25, in Evanston is 56, in Fairview Heights is 1, in Freeport is 9, in Galesburg is 7, in Geneseo is 3, in Geneva is 8, in Granite City is 11, in Harvey is 21, in Herrin is 3, in Hickory Hills is 3, in Highland Park is 33, in Jacksonville is 5, in Jerseyville is 1, in Johnston City is 2, in Joliet is 44, in Kankakee is 14, in Kewanee is 2, in Lake Forest is 38, in Lincoln is 2, in Lockport is 6, in Loves Park is 4, in Macomb is 5, in Marion is 7, in Mattoon is 14, in Mchenry is 13, in Moline is 15, in Momence is 4, in Morris is 7, in Mount Vernon is 7, in Naperville is 90, in Normal is 14, in North Chicago is 2, in Oak Forest is 7, in Oakbrook Terrace is 11, in Olney is 4, in Ottawa is 6, in Palos Heights is 33, in Park Ridge is 42, in Pekin is 6, in Peoria is 129, in Peru is 3, in Prospect Heights is 1, in Quincy is 11, in Rock Island is 3, in Rockford is 54, in Rolling Meadows is 1, in Salem is 4, in Springfield is 72, in Staunton is 1, in Sterling is 6, in Streator is 3, in Sycamore is 1, in Urbana is 23, in Vandalia is 2, in Warrenville is 3, in Washington is 6, in Waukegan is 21, in West Chicago is 7, in Wheaton is 26, in Wood Dale is 4, in Woodstock is 10, in Yorkville is 3, and in Zion is 1.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.