Scholars International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SIJOG)
Volume-7 | Issue-12 | 678-683
Review Article
Abū Bakr Moḥammad Ibn Zakriyā Al-Rāzī (Rhazes): Father of Paediatric
Suleman Ahmad, Ghazala Hashmi
Published : Dec. 31, 2024
Abstract
Abū Bakr Moḥammad Ibn Zakriyā Al-Rāzī, a distinguished physician of the 9th–10th centuries, made ground-breaking contributions that significantly shaped the discipline of paediatrics and advanced the knowledge and treatment of infectious diseases. His scholarly works, which include the renowned texts Kitāb al-Hāwi and Kitāb al-Judri wa al-Hasbā, underscore the critical importance of preventive health measures, stringent hygiene practices, and the necessity of implementing age-appropriate treatments tailored specifically for children. Al-Rāzī made a significant distinction between the illnesses that affect children and those that are prevalent in adults, advocating for a therapeutic approach that is uniquely tailored to the specific health needs of the younger population. His ground-breaking monograph, titled Kitāb al-Tibb al-Atfāl, systematically addressed the various aspects of paediatric care, offering insights that were revolutionary for his time. Furthermore, Al-Rāzī's meticulous and detailed descriptions of diseases such as smallpox and measles enhanced the precision of diagnostics, thereby improving the understanding of these conditions and their management. His insightful contributions laid the essential foundations for the evolution of modern paediatrics as well as for the contemporary approach to infectious disease management, influencing several generations of medical practitioners and researchers in subsequent eras.