Paediatrics Vocabulary in English

Paediatrics is the British English spelling, used in the UK, Australia, and most Commonwealth countries. Pediatrics is the American English spelling. Both refer to the same medical specialty concerned with the health and diseases of children. When writing for a British or international healthcare context, use the British spelling. Medical students, nurses, and healthcare professionals in the UK should consistently use paediatrics and paediatrician.

Developmental milestones are specific skills or behaviours that most children achieve by a certain age as part of normal physical, cognitive, social, and language development. For example: smiling socially by 6 weeks, sitting unsupported by 6–9 months, walking by 18 months, and speaking 50+ words by 2 years. Health visitors and paediatricians use milestone assessments to identify children who may need additional support or investigation.

Safeguarding in paediatric settings refers to the measures taken to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm. All healthcare professionals working with children in the UK are required to follow safeguarding procedures. This includes recognising signs of potential abuse, reporting concerns to the appropriate authority, and maintaining accurate documentation. The term appears frequently in nursing and medical English at B2–C1 level.

Neonatal jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes in newborn babies, caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. It is very common, affecting around 60% of term babies and 80% of premature babies. Most cases are mild and resolve within two weeks without treatment. Severe or prolonged jaundice requires treatment with phototherapy (light therapy) or, in rare cases, a blood transfusion.

A febrile seizure (also called a febrile convulsion) is a seizure triggered by a high fever in young children, typically between 6 months and 5 years. It is usually brief and does not indicate epilepsy. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterised by recurrent seizures unrelated to fever. While febrile seizures can be frightening for parents, they are generally benign and most children outgrow them.

Congenital means present from birth. A congenital condition may be genetic (inherited) or caused by something that happened during foetal development, such as an infection during pregnancy or exposure to certain medications. Common examples include congenital heart defects, congenital hip dysplasia, and congenital hypothyroidism. The term is distinct from hereditary, which specifically means passed down through genes from parents.

Bronchiolitis is a common viral infection of the lower respiratory tract that causes inflammation and congestion in the small airways (bronchioles). It most commonly affects infants under 12 months old and peaks in winter. The most common cause is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms include runny nose, cough, mild fever, and breathing difficulty. Most cases are managed at home, but severe cases may require hospitalisation.

Failure to thrive (FTT) describes a child who is not growing or gaining weight at the expected rate for their age and sex. It is identified using growth charts and is not a diagnosis in itself but rather a sign that warrants further investigation. Causes can be organic (medical conditions affecting nutrition or absorption) or non-organic (social, environmental, or feeding difficulties). Early identification is important for the child’s long-term health.

The OET (Occupational English Test) is a healthcare-specific English language test accepted for registration by medical and nursing councils in the UK, Australia, and other countries. Paediatric scenarios are common in OET speaking and writing sub-tests. Knowing vocabulary like immunisation, developmental milestones, consent, and safeguarding helps candidates respond accurately and professionally in simulated clinical consultations.

Vaccination refers specifically to the act of administering a vaccine — the physical injection or oral dose. Immunisation is the broader process by which a person becomes immune to a disease, either through vaccination or by having had the disease. In everyday British English, the two words are often used interchangeably, but technically a person can be vaccinated without achieving full immunisation if their immune response is insufficient.