'Pediatrics' is Greek for 'child-healing' — 'pais' (child) + 'iatros' (healer). Bookend of 'geriatrics.'
The branch of medicine dealing with children and their diseases.
From Greek "παιδιατρική" (paidiatrikḗ, the healing of children), a compound of "παῖς" (paîs, genitive "παιδός," paidós, child) + "ἰατρική" (iatrikḗ, medical art), from "ἰατρός" (iatrós, healer, physician). The first element "παῖς" traces to PIE *peh₂w- (few, small, young), which also produced Latin "paucus" (few → "paucity"), "pauper" (poor, literally producing little → "poor," "poverty"), and "parvus" (small). Greek "παῖς" generated a rich word family: "pedagogy" (child-leading, from "agōgós," leader), "encyclopedia
'Pediatrics' (child-healing) and 'geriatrics' (elder-healing) are perfect bookends — same '-iatrics' suffix (from Greek 'iatros,' healer), different life stages. And 'pedagogy' (child-leading) shares 'pais' (child) but pairs it with 'agein' (to lead). Confusingly, 'podiatry' (foot-healing) looks similar but uses 'pous/podos' (foot), not 'pais' (child). Children and feet: different Greek words, similar English spellings