Illness

What does a pediatrician treat?

You can trust Dr. Stein with essentially all your child’s health care needs. This includes annual physical exams, vaccination updates, and other routine care. She’s also well-equipped to manage many childhood diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. And a typical workday for Dr. Stein at her thriving practice includes visits with acutely sick children and their concerned parents.

What are acute illnesses?

An acute illness is one that comes on suddenly and is considered temporary, as opposed to chronic or long-term conditions like diabetes or heart defects. What appears to be an acute illness may be chronic, such as respiratory symptoms that are due to allergies or asthma rather than a virus.

Acute illnesses that many children experience include viral infections that lead to colds and the flu, moderate scrapes and bruises sustained during a fall, and unexplained rashes.

Common acute illnesses that bring patients to Sima Stein, MD include:

• Sore throats and possible strep infections
• Cough, fevers, and chills
• Bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses

As a pediatrician, Dr. Stein also sees patients with childhood complaints that are very familiar to many parents, including:

• Ear infections
• Tummy aches, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
• Pinkeye (conjunctivitis)
• Bumps or lumps

Other illnesses you might not associate with children include:

• Joint pain
• Back pain
• Burning with urination and other urinary issues     

Because Dr. Stein’s patients include teens and young adults, she’s also experienced in treating mononucleosis, acne, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

When is it time to call the pediatrician?

Dr. Stein encourages parents to call the office any time they’re concerned about their child’s health and well-being. Her commitment to personalized care includes making sure her patients and their parents feel comfortable about asking for help, regardless of the circumstance.

Generally, however, it’s important to consider the age of your child when deciding whether to call the doctor. What may seem like a minor inconvenience for an adult, such as a low-grade fever and cough, can quickly become serious for an infant or toddler.

When in doubt, you can call Dr. Stein’s office for direction or ask for guidance during a routine well-child visit. Stein Pediatrics also has in-office urgent care for illnesses that come on suddenly. Never hesitate to seek emergency care by calling 911 when your child is struggling to breathe, bleeding heavily from a cut, or otherwise appears to need immediate medical attention.