Practice News

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: What Parents Need to Know Amid a Summer Surge This summer, our community has seen a noticeable increase in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) —a common viral illness that mostly affects infants and young children. At our pediatric office, we want to help you recognize the symptoms, understand how it spreads, and know how to care for your child if they become sick. What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? HFMD is usually caused by coxsackievirus and is most common in children under 5, though older kids and even adults can occasionally be affected. It is highly contagious and spreads through coughs, sneezes, saliva, fluid from blisters, and stool. Common Symptoms Include: Fever Sore throat Painful mouth sores A rash or small blisters on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks or legs Decreased appetite or fussiness in young children Symptoms typically appear 3–6 days after exposure and can last up to a week. Why Are Cases Increasing Now? Summer often brings more group activities like camps, daycare programs, and family gatherings—ideal environments for viruses like HFMD to spread quickly. This year, we’re seeing an especially active season. How Can I Help Prevent It? While there’s no vaccine for HFMD, good hygiene is your best defense: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water Disinfect commonly touched surfaces and shared toys Keep children home when they're sick, especially if they have a fever or rash When to Call the Doctor Most cases of HFMD are mild and resolve on their own. However, you should contact your pediatrician if your child: Has a high fever lasting more than 3 days Refuses to drink fluids or shows signs of dehydration Appears unusually sleepy or irritable Has symptoms that worsen or don’t improve after a few days We're Here to Help If you have concerns or think your child might have HFMD, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our office is here to support your family through the summer and beyond with compassionate, expert care

We are seeing a lot of cases of Norovirus and other stomach bugs in our community. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever or headache. These symptoms typically appear suddenly and can last anywhere from one to three days. In young children, the impact of norovirus can be more severe, as they are more prone to dehydration due to their smaller body size and higher fluid turnover. Dehydration in young children can lead to dry mouth, sunken eyes, reduced urine output, and lethargy, all of which require urgent medical attention. Parents should seek evaluation by a pediatrician if their child exhibits signs of severe dehydration, such as excessive thirst, inability to keep fluids down, a decrease in wet diapers, or a dry mouth. Additionally, if the child appears excessively sleepy, has a high fever, or shows blood in the stool or vomit, it's essential to contact a healthcare provider. Young children, particularly those under the age of 5, are at higher risk for complications from norovirus, making prompt medical attention important to prevent further health issues.

We are offering influenza and RSV shot clinics every Saturday in October. Children younger than 5 years old–especially those younger than 2–are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications . While not at higher risk, children 5 years and older can spread flu to their higher risk family members, like infants younger than 6 months old and adults who are 65 years and older or people of any age who have certain chronic health conditions. It’s important to vaccinate everyone 6 months and older in your family against flu each year to help protect those most at risk. A flu vaccine offers the best defense against flu and its potentially serious complications and also can reduce the spread of flu to others. There is also an RSV immunization available for children under 8 months old. Infants in this age group are at the highest risk for severe respiratory illness caused by this common virus. The RSV immunization helps to protect vulnerable infants by significantly reducing the likeliuhood of hospitalization and serious compications, including pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Spring is the time when most schools start registration for Preschool and Kindergarten. This is the perfect time for your child's annual wellness visit. At this visit, we assess for school rediness, help discuss services that schools can provide for children who need them, evaluate growth, and discuss healthy habits. We can discuss stratigies for successful school entrance. It is also the time when kids get their booster shot series (typically recommended at 4 years old). Most schools also require a Virginia school entrance form to be filled out by your child's health care provider. We have these forms in our office and can get this filled out for you during your child's visit. We can also fill out other forms such as allergy or asthma plans that schools will need for children who need them. Call our office today to schedule an appointment!

We are now offering the 2-dose, Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 to our patients ages 12 years old and up. If you would like to sign your child up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Lynchburg Pediatrics, please call our office at 434-385-7776 to be scheduled for one of our COVID vaccine clinic days.