RSV, short for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a very frustrating illness, particularly in children younger than 2 years old. Because it is viral, there is no cure for RSV. Steroids and antibiotics do not help, and it has to be treated with methods such as nasal suctioning, increased fluids, and acetaminophen.  According to the CDC almost everyone will have had RSV by...

COVID 19 has turned our world upside down and we continue to learn more about this virus each day. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation and confusion regarding COVID 19, so I wanted to go over a few common myths that I have heard and clear them up with the facts. Myth #1:...

Fever is one of the most common reasons a child is brought to the doctor. Believe it or not, fever is not harmful in most cases! Fever usually occurs as a response to a viral or bacterial infection in the body. Fever is one of the body’s amazing built-in immune responses. When the body’s immune...

What is it? Diarrhea refers to the passage of three or more loose or watery stools per day. The most common cause in children is viral. However, there are other reasons children can have diarrhea such as bacteria, parasites, food allergies and excessive juice intake. What are the symptoms? Diarrhea can occur isolated, meaning by...

What is it? A common cold, known as a Upper Respiratory Tract infection, is an illness caused by a number of different viruses such as rhinovirus, metapneumovirus or rhino/enterovirus. What are the symptoms? Your child may have fever, runny or stuffy nose, mild sore throat, watery eyes, headache, and and wet cough. These symptoms may...

What is it? A fever is defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics as body temperature greater than 100.4°F or 38°C taken with a thermometer.  There are a variety of ways to take a temperature:  by mouth, ear, forehead or rectum.  A fever is not a bad thing, since it can help your child’s body...

What is it? It is when stomach contents come up into, and are ejected beyond the mouth. In children, the most common cause are viruses. What are the symptoms? Your child may have viral symptoms such as fever, nausea, poor appetite, decreased activity, fatigue, abdominal pain or cramps. How do I treat it? Mild vomiting,...

All across the state pediatricians are asking themselves, what is happening?! This year’s respiratory season (or “flu season”) is off to a rocky start! With much higher numbers than predicted, primary care offices, urgent care clinics, and hospitals are seeing a very abnormal pattern to this year’s season. What is normal? Typically, flu season starts...

It is the beginning of influenza (“flu”) season! Here are some things to be aware of as we enter this year’s flu season: The flu mist, or nasal spray vaccine, is approved this year by the Center for Disease Control and by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This is a change from the 2018-2019...

It is always a tough call for us parents! Your child has been diagnosed with the flu, impetigo, strep, or some other contagious illness. The big question is: when can they go back?We don’t want our kiddos missing too much school, but we don’t want them to infect other children, or just be miserable all...

Short answer: You don’t know! Allergies, colds, flu…it can be hard to tell these different conditions apart. A cold, also known as a URI (upper respiratory infection), is one of the most common childhood illnesses. The main symptoms that accompany a cold are a runny nose, a cough and fever. It is important to remember...

One of the most common questions we are asked is when should I take my child to the doctor when they have a fever? A fever is not necessarily a bad thing. A fever is typically a sign of the body fighting off an infection. If your child has a fever, it is most likely...