Pediatrics

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
80
Overall hours
SSD
MED/38 MED/39
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
Knowledge of the characteristic features and developmental changes of the major physiological systems during infancy, childhood, adolescence (0-18 years).
Knowledge of the main childhood diseases. Of particular importance is the ability to recognise the conditions which require urgent attention and the diseases which require the expertise of a specialist. In the context of chronic diseases, which will affect patients throughout their entire lives, the importance of the associated social aspects is highlighted.
When relevant, the problem of prevention is dealt with.
Indications about taking a medical history (which requires particular methods of communication, given that the patients are children), performing a physical examination (in children of different ages) are provided, as well as indications for differential diagnosis, therapeutic and, where required, rehabilitation interventions.
Expected learning outcomes
On completion of the course the student should:
· be able to take a medical history by communicating both with the parent and, possibly, with the child, considering the different age-appropriate methods (0-18 years) and the socio-cultural status of the family;
· be able to perform a physical examination taking into account the age of the patient as well as their clinical condition;
· know and understand the characteristic features and developmental changes of the major organ and physiological systems during infancy, childhood, adolescence (namely those which undergo significant changes, eg. the kidney, the hematopoietic system, the immune system etc.);
· know and understand the physiological characteristics of somatic growth;
· know and understand the main pediatric diseases of the different age groups, their differential diagnoses and therapeutic interventions, and recognise the conditions which require the expertise of a specialist;
· know and understand, in particular, the chronic diseases that will affect patients their entire lives; knowledge of the treatments, including possible rehabilitation therapies, and their social implications, is required;
· know and understand the main emergency pathological situations, their alarm symptoms, the first-line emergency treatment to perform; recognise when it is necessary to send the patient to a hospital casualty department;
· know and understand the preventive measures for childhood illnesses, with particular regard for those of great social impact;
· be able to communicate with patients and their families with respect and empathy.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Linea Policlinico

Prerequisites for admission
Acquired basic knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and General Pathology, of which disciplines exams must have already been passed
Assessment methods and Criteria
Grading in thirtieths. Oral examination during which the ability to organize acquired knowledge and critical reasoning skills will be evaluated, along with clarity of exposition and competence in the use of specific vocabulary.
General and subspecialty paediatrics
Course syllabus
Approach to the child and adolescent
- History and objective examination
- Growth
- Psychomotor development.
- Communication with the patient and his or her family
- The family pediatrician in Italy
- Pediatrics and Global Health

Neonatology
- Adaptation to extrauterine life and delivery assistance
- The physiological newborn
- Framing of the pathological newborn
- Jaundice
- Neonatal screening
- Neonatal infections
- Alterations in glucose metabolism
- The preterm neonate
- Neonatal neurological problems and their sequelae

Endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition
- Lactation and weaning
- Milks in infant feeding
- Nutrition from infancy to adolescence
- Eating disorders
- Congenital metabolic diseases
- Acquired dysmetabolisms
- Cystic fibrosis
- Short stature
- Altered pubertal development, disorders of sexual differentiation

Gastroenterology
- Acute diarrhea
- Malabsorption syndromes, gluten-related diseases and related diet
- Irritable colon and recurrent abdominal pain
- Major liver diseases

Immunology and Rheumatology
- Congenital immune deficits
- Vasculitis of pediatric age
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Other systemic connective disorders
- Recurrent fevers and monogenic autoinflammatory diseases
- Rheumatic disease
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Respiratory diseases and infections
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Meningitis and meningo-encephalitis
- The child with fever
- Principles of antibiotic therapy
- Vaccinations
- Asthma and allergies

Nephrology
- Urinary tract infections
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Nephritic syndromes
- Acute renal failure
- Chronic renal failure
- Dietary treatment in renal diseases

Oncohematology
- Assessment of blood counts
- Anemias
- Plateletopenias
- Leukemias
- Hints of major malignancies

Headaches
- Primary headaches and secondary headaches

The physician facing the child in the emergency department
- Triage
- The evaluation of the child in the emergency department
- The head injury
- Management of fluid and electrolyte disturbances during acute pathology
- Communication in the emergency department
- Urgent care/surgical emergencies
Teaching methods
The program will be conducted through lectures, with the aid of teaching materials (slide projections), nonformal teaching, through the analysis of clinical cases, and innovative teaching. The latter consists of the treatment of topics, present in the program and agreed with the students, which are introduced by the lecturer, deepened independently by the student, carrying out tasks based on the lecturer's instructions, and then discussed in the following hours of frontal teaching
Teaching Resources
- Zuccotti GV. Manuale di Pediatria. La pratica clinica. Esculapio 2016
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Manuale di Pediatria. Quinta edizione. Edra 2018
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Elsevier 2019
Child neuropsychiatry
Course syllabus
- Normal development
- Cerebral palsies
- Intellectual disabilities
- Epilepsies and seizures of other nature. Non-epileptic paroxysmal manifestations
- Adolescent psychopathology
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Teaching methods
The program will be conducted through lectures, with the aid of teaching materials (slide projections), nonformal teaching, through the analysis of clinical cases, and innovative teaching. The latter consists of the treatment of topics, present in the program and agreed with the students, which are introduced by the lecturer, deepened independently by the student, carrying out tasks based on the lecturer's instructions, and then discussed in the following hours of frontal teaching
Teaching Resources
- Zuccotti GV. Manuale di Pediatria. La pratica clinica. Esculapio 2016
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Manuale di Pediatria. Quinta edizione. Edra 2018
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Elsevier 2019
Child neuropsychiatry
MED/39 - CHILD NEUROPSYCHIATRY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 8 hours
: 4 hours
General and subspecialty paediatrics
MED/38 - PAEDIATRICS - University credits: 5
Informal teaching: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
: 16 hours

Linea San Donato

Prerequisites for admission
Acquired basic knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and General Pathology, of which disciplines exams must have already been passed
Assessment methods and Criteria
Grading in thirtieths. Oral examination during which the ability to organize acquired knowledge and critical reasoning skills will be evaluated, along with clarity of exposition and competence in the use of specific vocabulary.
General and subspecialty paediatrics
Course syllabus
Approach to the child and adolescent
- History and objective examination
- Growth
- Psychomotor development.
- Communication with the patient and his or her family
- The family pediatrician in Italy
- Pediatrics and Global Health

Neonatology
- Adaptation to extrauterine life and delivery assistance
- The physiological newborn
- Framing of the pathological newborn
- Jaundice
- Neonatal screening
- Neonatal infections
- Alterations in glucose metabolism
- The preterm neonate
- Neonatal neurological problems and their sequelae

Endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition
- Lactation and weaning
- Milks in infant feeding
- Nutrition from infancy to adolescence
- Eating disorders
- Congenital metabolic diseases
- Acquired dysmetabolisms
- Cystic fibrosis
- Short stature
- Altered pubertal development, disorders of sexual differentiation

Gastroenterology
- Acute diarrhea
- Malabsorption syndromes, gluten-related diseases and related diet
- Irritable colon and recurrent abdominal pain
- Major liver diseases

Immunology and Rheumatology
- Congenital immune deficits
- Vasculitis of pediatric age
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Other systemic connective disorders
- Recurrent fevers and monogenic autoinflammatory diseases
- Rheumatic disease
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Respiratory diseases and infections
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Meningitis and meningo-encephalitis
- The child with fever
- Principles of antibiotic therapy
- Vaccinations
- Asthma and allergies

Nephrology
- Urinary tract infections
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Nephritic syndromes
- Acute renal failure
- Chronic renal failure
- Dietary treatment in renal diseases

Oncohematology
- Assessment of blood counts
- Anemias
- Plateletopenias
- Leukemias
- Hints of major malignancies

Headaches
- Primary headaches and secondary headaches

The physician facing the child in the emergency department
- Triage
- The evaluation of the child in the emergency department
- The head injury
- Management of fluid and electrolyte disturbances during acute pathology
- Communication in the emergency department
- Urgent care/surgical emergencies
Teaching methods
The program will be conducted through lectures, with the aid of teaching materials (slide projections), nonformal teaching, through the analysis of clinical cases, and innovative teaching. The latter consists of the treatment of topics, present in the program and agreed with the students, which are introduced by the lecturer, deepened independently by the student, carrying out tasks based on the lecturer's instructions, and then discussed in the following hours of frontal teaching
Teaching Resources
- Zuccotti GV. Manuale di Pediatria. La pratica clinica. Esculapio 2016
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Manuale di Pediatria. Quinta edizione. Edra 2018
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Elsevier 2019
Child neuropsychiatry
Course syllabus
- Normal development
- Cerebral palsies
- Intellectual disabilities
- Epilepsies and seizures of other nature. Non-epileptic paroxysmal manifestations
- Adolescent psychopathology
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Teaching methods
The program will be conducted through lectures, with the aid of teaching materials (slide projections), nonformal teaching, through the analysis of clinical cases, and innovative teaching. The latter consists of the treatment of topics, present in the program and agreed with the students, which are introduced by the lecturer, deepened independently by the student, carrying out tasks based on the lecturer's instructions, and then discussed in the following hours of frontal teaching
Teaching Resources
- Zuccotti GV. Manuale di Pediatria. La pratica clinica. Esculapio 2016
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Manuale di Pediatria. Quinta edizione. Edra 2018
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Elsevier 2019
Child neuropsychiatry
MED/39 - CHILD NEUROPSYCHIATRY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 8 hours
: 4 hours
General and subspecialty paediatrics
MED/38 - PAEDIATRICS - University credits: 5
Informal teaching: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
: 16 hours

Linea San Giuseppe

Prerequisites for admission
Acquired basic knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology and General Pathology, of which disciplines exams must have already been passed
Assessment methods and Criteria
Grading in thirtieths. Oral examination during which the ability to organize acquired knowledge and critical reasoning skills will be evaluated, along with clarity of exposition and competence in the use of specific vocabulary.
General and subspecialty paediatrics
Course syllabus
Approach to the child and adolescent
- History and objective examination
- Growth
- Psychomotor development.
- Communication with the patient and his or her family
- The family pediatrician in Italy
- Pediatrics and Global Health

Neonatology
- Adaptation to extrauterine life and delivery assistance
- The physiological newborn
- Framing of the pathological newborn
- Jaundice
- Neonatal screening
- Neonatal infections
- Alterations in glucose metabolism
- The preterm neonate
- Neonatal neurological problems and their sequelae

Endocrinology, metabolism, and nutrition
- Lactation and weaning
- Milks in infant feeding
- Nutrition from infancy to adolescence
- Eating disorders
- Congenital metabolic diseases
- Acquired dysmetabolisms
- Cystic fibrosis
- Short stature
- Altered pubertal development, disorders of sexual differentiation

Gastroenterology
- Acute diarrhea
- Malabsorption syndromes, gluten-related diseases and related diet
- Irritable colon and recurrent abdominal pain
- Major liver diseases

Immunology and Rheumatology
- Congenital immune deficits
- Vasculitis of pediatric age
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Other systemic connective disorders
- Recurrent fevers and monogenic autoinflammatory diseases
- Rheumatic disease
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Respiratory diseases and infections
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Lower respiratory tract infections
- Meningitis and meningo-encephalitis
- The child with fever
- Principles of antibiotic therapy
- Vaccinations
- Asthma and allergies

Nephrology
- Urinary tract infections
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Nephritic syndromes
- Acute renal failure
- Chronic renal failure
- Dietary treatment in renal diseases

Oncohematology
- Assessment of blood counts
- Anemias
- Plateletopenias
- Leukemias
- Hints of major malignancies

Headaches
- Primary headaches and secondary headaches

The physician facing the child in the emergency department
- Triage
- The evaluation of the child in the emergency department
- The head injury
- Management of fluid and electrolyte disturbances during acute pathology
- Communication in the emergency department
- Urgent care/surgical emergencies
Teaching methods
The program will be conducted through lectures, with the aid of teaching materials (slide projections), nonformal teaching, through the analysis of clinical cases, and innovative teaching. The latter consists of the treatment of topics, present in the program and agreed with the students, which are introduced by the lecturer, deepened independently by the student, carrying out tasks based on the lecturer's instructions, and then discussed in the following hours of frontal teaching
Teaching Resources
- Zuccotti GV. Manuale di Pediatria. La pratica clinica. Esculapio 2016
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Manuale di Pediatria. Quinta edizione. Edra 2018
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Elsevier 2019
Child neuropsychiatry
Course syllabus
- Normal development
- Cerebral palsies
- Intellectual disabilities
- Epilepsies and seizures of other nature. Non-epileptic paroxysmal manifestations
- Adolescent psychopathology
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Teaching methods
The program will be conducted through lectures, with the aid of teaching materials (slide projections), nonformal teaching, through the analysis of clinical cases, and innovative teaching. The latter consists of the treatment of topics, present in the program and agreed with the students, which are introduced by the lecturer, deepened independently by the student, carrying out tasks based on the lecturer's instructions, and then discussed in the following hours of frontal teaching
Teaching Resources
- Zuccotti GV. Manuale di Pediatria. La pratica clinica. Esculapio 2016
- Lissauer T, Carroll W. Manuale di Pediatria. Quinta edizione. Edra 2018
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Elsevier 2019
Child neuropsychiatry
MED/39 - CHILD NEUROPSYCHIATRY - University credits: 1
Lessons: 8 hours
: 4 hours
General and subspecialty paediatrics
MED/38 - PAEDIATRICS - University credits: 5
Informal teaching: 16 hours
Lessons: 36 hours
: 16 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 1 - 2 pm (e-mail )
San Paolo Hospital, Via A di Rudinì 8, 20142 - Milano
Reception:
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milano - Clinica Mangiagalli Via della Commenda 12, 2nd floor, Centro studi Motta"
Reception by appointment (mail to [email protected])
Reception:
Contacting by email