Having a sick child can be stressful. You may wonder if your child’s illness requires medical attention, or if it will be better remedied at home. At New Beginnings Pediatrics, we will happily answer any questions you have and help you to determine if your child needs to come in for an appointment. We can set up same-day sick visits to diagnose and treat your child so that they can recover as quickly as possible.

Acute Illnesses

An acute illness is a disease that comes on quickly and usually ends in a short amount of time. The most common examples of acute illnesses include:

• Stomach flu (including vomiting and/or diarrhea)
• Common cold/viral upper respiratory infection
• Strep throat
• Ear infection
• Bladder infection
• Flu virus

Children, in particular, are more likely to be exposed to and diagnosed with an acute illness. If you suspect that your little one has an acute illness, it is important to take note of their symptoms and contact New Beginnings Pediatrics as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Acute Illnesses

While symptoms of acute illnesses can vary depending on the illness, common symptoms in children include:

• Fatigue
• Congestion (nasal or chest)
• Fever
• Rash
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Decreased appetite

It is common for acute illness symptoms to progress or worsen before the illness has run its course. These worsening symptoms can include:

• Wheezing and difficulty breathing
• High fever
• Decreased urinary output
• Fussiness

Diagnosis of Acute Illnesses

At New Beginnings Pediatrics, our goal is to ensure that your sick little ones recover as quickly as possible. If you suspect that your child has an acute illness, please schedule a sick child visit with us so we can evaluate your child and get them the treatment they need. Depending on your child’s symptoms, we may run a few tests to further assess their condition. These tests include:

• Strep test
• Flu test
• RSV test
• Mono test
• Urinalysis

We will perform a comprehensive examination to determine the cause of the illness.

Treatment of Acute Illnesses

Most acute illnesses are caused by viruses. Unfortunately, there are not many treatment options for most viruses. If a child is determined to have a bacterial infection, such as an ear infection, pneumonia or strep throat, they will need an antibiotic. This can only be determined after an office visit and examination.

If your child is experiencing a sore throat, fever, or other acute illness symptoms, call us at (540) 739-3623 to request an appointment for a sick visit.

Illness Prevention Tips

Babies and children will often put toys and other objects in their mouths to explore their surroundings. While this is a normal phase of development, it unfortunately also exposes children to viruses and bacteria. Overall, good hygiene practices can prevent the contraction and spread of illnesses. Other illness prevention tips include:

• Washing hands with warm water and soap
• Do not share toothbrushes, sippy cups, silverware, or other objects that come into contact with the mouth with other family members
• Frequently clean your baby’s toys and/or pacifiers
• Avoid sharing toys or objects with other children
• Keep children at home when they have a fever of 100.5 or greater
• Annual flu shot for children 6 months or older