What Does A Pediatrician Do?
When you think of a pediatrician, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Aside from just a children’s doctor, a pediatrician can be an invaluable piece to helping your child grow and prosper into adulthood. One of the most important decisions you make as a parent involves selecting a pediatrician. Making sure your child is receiving quality care should be your number one priority when it comes to your decision. If you are looking for an Oyster Bay Pediatrics, our local pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of Plainview should definitely be under your consideration!
How Can Oyster Bay Pediatrics Help My Child?
A pediatrician will help to make sure your child stays healthy throughout the remainder of their childhood. In order to help keep your child healthy, a pediatrician can offer the following services:
- They will perform physical examinations on your child.
- Administer vaccines
- Track milestones and keep track of your child’s height, weight, growth, behavior, and skills.
- Diagnose and treat your child’s injuries, sickness, and any other potential problems with their health.
- Answer any questions you have about the development of your child.
- They can also refer you to a specialist if need be.
If you are expecting a newborn, your pediatrician will usually see your child 2-3 days after birth and regularly perform visits for checkups. At Pediatric Associates of Plainview, we are committed to helping you raise your child to the healthiest possible degree! Your child’s comfort and peace of mind are at the top of our priorities!
Visit Us For Oyster Bay Pediatrics:
At Pediatric Associate of Plainview, we are able to provide an abundance of services for your child. Some of these services include a few of the following:
- Preventive safety and health counseling.
- Blood drawing.
- Immunizations.
- School, camp, and sports physical examinations.
- Orthopedic minor injury care.
- Hearing and vision tests.
We also provide care for colds, earaches, rashes, sore throats, and many other acute illnesses to get your child the treatment they need as soon as possible!
Pediatricians are highly trained in adolescent social, mental, and physical health. You must choose the right one for your child! Make an appointment with Pediatric Associates of Plainview today and let us help your child achieve optimal health & wellness!
Oyster Bay Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Whenever a child goes through Adolescence, it’s at a point in time of their life in which rapid changes are beginning to occur. It’s essential to seek medical attention during these times since it’s a big transition into their following stages of life. At Pediatrics of Plainview, we treat conditions such as growth and hormone problems, developmental disorders, and many others. If you need Oyster Bay Pediatrics for your child who is going through Adolescence, contact us today.
How Do You Know When A Child Has A Concussion?
How Can Oyster Bay Pediatrics Help You?
As they grow up, children tend to act as though they are indestructible. Whether it be during sports or playing with friends, head injuries can be quite common due to their recklessness. One of the major issues that come along with this is that head injuries can be difficult to diagnose in children because of their inability to properly communicate what they are feeling. That’s why as a parent, you should always be able to recognize the signs that point towards your child having a concussion. When these signs are present, our team at Pediatrics Associates of Plainview, a leader in Oyster Bay Pediatrics, will be able to help.
Causes Of Concussions
Concussions are a type of head injury caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration of the head, forcing the brain to slide back and forth against the inner walls of the skull. Examples of activities that can lead to your child sustaining a concussion include:
- Contact sports such as football.
- Slips and falls.
- Car accidents.
- Being violently shaken.
–
Signs Of A Concussion
Letting a concussion go untreated can lead to multiple other medical complications. That is why at the first sign of this injury being present in your child, you should visit our Oyster Bay pediatrics center right away. The symptoms you should look for in your children should include:
- Irritability and crankiness.
- Eating and sleeping pattern changes.
- Constant loss of balance.
- Increased fatigue levels.
- Excessive crying.
- Vomiting.
–
Treating Your Child
Following the successful diagnosis of a concussion, treatment for this injury can begin. Our Oyster Bay pediatrics experts stress the importance of your child resting until all of their symptoms have subsided. Not only does this involve limiting physical activity, but also activities that require mental concentration as well. The team at Pediatric Associates of Plainview will closely monitor your child’s progress and clear them for all of the activities they can begin to participate in again one by one.
Contact Us For Oyster Bay Pediatrics
No matter what age they occur, concussions can be a troublesome injury to manage. What can make matters worse is when a child suffers from one, but cannot articulate the difficulties that they are experiencing. Contact Pediatric Associates of Plainview, our center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics, today to learn more about concussion warning signs, or to schedule an appointment for treatment.
How Can My Kids Stay Active While Social Distancing?
By now, we all know how serious the Coronavirus is and how important it is to keep our distance from one another. While it is important to maintain social distancing, it is also important to stay active and not let our normal routines slip away. This is especially important for children, as maintaining the same routine and activity levels will help them feel a sense of normalcy. If you are a parent wondering how you can help your child safely remain active during these times, the team here at Pediatric Associates of Plainview is here to help! We are all in this together, so we want to extend our hand to help during these undeniably difficult times. Contact us for Oyster Bay Pediatrics today.
How to Practice Social Distancing
As the Coronavirus is highly contagious, keeping a safe distance from those around you is an essential part of flattening the curve. It is recommended that everyone stay at least six feet apart from one another, whether you live together or not. It is encouraged that everyone stays at home and only goes out when necessary to help stop the spread. If you must go out for essentials, it is important that you wear a mask or some kind of barrier around your mouth to keep you and others safe.
How To Stay Active While Social Distancing
These times are difficult to navigate for many as everyone is trying to figure out how to keep busy and active while being quarantined at home. With social distancing being mandated and places like parks and beaches being closed, it is more difficult for kids to stay active. However, while this may be new to your family, there are things that you can do in or around your home that will keep both you and your children safe and active. Some great ideas from our team of Oyster Bay Pediatrics you can do to help keep your kids active during these times may include any of the following:
- Going on family walks or runs.
- Creating an obstacle course in your home or yard.
- Exercising together in a way that is fun for them.
- Riding bikes, scooters, rollerblades, etc. together.
- Playing sports with whatever toys and materials you have on hand.
- Having a dance party.
–
Why Staying Active is Important
Understandably, it is important to stay physically active and fit for a variety of reasons, especially with everything going on in the world today. Being that we must stay home, it can be easy for your family to fall into a routine of being laid up on the couch every day. You should avoid this and strive to keep everyone active for both physical and mental health reasons. Among the many benefits of staying active, especially for children, are the following:
- Improved mood.
- Reduced stress levels.
- Improved sleep.
- Sharpened focus.
- Weight management.
–
Contact Us For Oyster Bay Pediatrics
If you need any additional ideas on how to keep your kids active during these hard times, please do not hesitate to contact us for Oyster Bay Pediatrics. Additionally, if you suspect your child needs pediatric assistance, we are now offering telehealth appointments so that we can help to the best of our ability while keeping everyone safe. Please visit our website to learn more about what we’re doing to help our patients during these times or contact us today!
Which Foods Are Best For Supporting My Child’s Immune System?
Oyster Bay Pediatrics
From a young age, children are very impressionable. Teaching them the benefits of a healthy diet will help increase their well-being as they grow into adulthood. A healthy diet will also work wonders for keeping them healthy as their immune system continues to develop. At Pediatric Associates of Planview, our center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics, we’d like to assist in this process. To properly support your child’s immune system, consider increasing their consumption of the below foods.
Lean Meats And Eggs
Intaking enough protein is essential to the healthy development of your child. This macronutrient is the basic building block for muscles, and will also help to aid the immune system. Lean meats and eggs are a great source of protein. As an additional benefit of lean meats, they are also high in the mineral Zinc. Zinc helps to increase the number of white blood cells in your child’s bloodstream, making it easier for them to fight off infections.
Walnuts
Walnuts can be considered a superfood for your child. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which hold many benefits. It has been shown that omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce the prevalence of respiratory infections in children. Walnuts can easily be incorporated into many different dishes, making them one of the most useful foods when supporting your child’s immune system.
Garlic
If you’re looking to cut down on the need for Oyster Bay Pediatrics, try to integrate more garlic into your child’s diet. Garlic has both antiviral and antibacterial properties. Like with lean meat, consuming garlic can also help to increase your child’s white blood cell count and maintain a healthier immune system.
Carrots
This vegetable is a favorite for many, and there is a good reason for this. Carrots get their vibrant orange color from a component known as beta carotene. This component supports the body’s mucous membrane that lines the respiratory and intestinal tracts. A healthy mucous membrane makes it more difficult for infectious bacteria to enter the bloodstream, reducing the risk of infections. As an added benefit, carrots also help maintain clear, healthy eyesight!
Fruits And Vegetables High In Vitamin C
When looking to create a healthy diet for your child, you’ll never go wrong making sure they eat ample amounts of fruits and vegetables. However, when you’re specifically looking to help boost their immune system, try focusing on produce that is high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a known immunity booster and is necessary for the repair and growth of tissues in the body. Because this vitamin is not produced by the body, the foods your child eats are of the utmost importance when it comes to getting sufficient amounts of it. To increase your child’s vitamin C intake, try focusing on the following fruits and vegetables:
- Oranges.
- Grapefruits.
- Strawberries.
- Bell peppers.
- Tomatoes.
- Broccoli
- Sweet potatoes.
To get the highest amount of vitamin C and reap the most benefits, we recommend serving your child these foods as soon as possible after purchase. Additionally, the levels of vitamin C in vegetables reduce the longer they are cooked, so it is important to limit cook times on them as much as you can.
Oyster Bay Pediatrics At Pediatric Associates Of Plainview
At Pediatric Associates of Plainview, we want to help keep your child healthy. One of the best ways to do this feeding them a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients that will aid in the development of a healthy immune system. Not only will a strong immune system help keep them happy and active, but it will also help prevent them from catching many common illnesses. If you’d like to learn more about which foods are best for supporting your child’s immune system, or if you’re looking for a center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics to be there for your child when they need it, be sure to contact us today!
Is My Child At Risk For COVID-19?
The year 2020 has been unlike any other faced in a generation. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyday life has been uprooted for many since March. While the country is slowly moving towards a sense of normalcy, please make no mistake about it, COVID-19 is still a threat. If you’re concerned about your children’s health, our Oyster Bay Pediatrics at Pediatric Associates of Plainview will help. We’ll inform you if your child is at risk for developing severe symptoms should they contract this virus and offer some tips on how it can be avoided.
Underlying Health Conditions
Although COVID-19 is still a relatively new virus, and there is still much to learn about it, scientists around the world have still been able to gain valuable insight. One of these insights is that children do not seem to be affected as much as older adults. A large majority of symptomatic cases lie within the adult population, which should help ease some nerves about the danger your child faces. However, it doesn’t mean they are immune. If your child has any underlying health conditions, they may be at risk for developing severe symptoms, should they become infected. Such conditions that can lead to this may include:
- Obesity.
- Chronic lung diseases.
- Weakened immune system.
- If they are born prematurely.
–
Symptoms To Watch For
As previously stated, children make up far less of the infected population than adults. In the United States, children only make up 9% of the cases, and they are hospitalized less frequently than adults. However, children who get hospitalized end up getting sent to the ICU at the same rate as adults. That is why when you suspect your child is sick, they should be tested right away for COVID-19 so they can be monitored appropriately. Symptoms that can point towards this illness may include:
- Fever.
- Sore throat.
- Cough.
- Nasal congestion or runny nose.
- Headache.
- Fatigue.
- Muscle aches.
–
Mitigating The Risk
Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire way to help your children avoid contracting COVID-19 entirely. However, steps can be implemented to reduce this risk. By having your child do the below, you’ll help keep them protected:
- Wash hands with soap and water regularly.
- Practice social distancing from their friends.
- Wear a cloth face mask when in a public setting.
–
Contact Us For Oyster Bay Pediatrics
At Pediatric Associates of Plainview, we know how difficult of a time this has been. The fear that COVID-19 brought has been unprecedented, but it’s important to remember that we will get through it with time and effort. Our team is committed to keeping our patients healthy and we will help your child in any way that we can. To learn more about if your child is at risk for COVID-19, or to schedule an appointment for care, contact our Oyster Bay Pediatrics today.
Does My Child Have Seasonal Allergies?
Have you been noticing frequent sneezing or runny noses in your child? This may be the start of seasonal allergies. With the approach of warm weather also comes an increase in pollen levels, making seasonal allergies very common. If you are concerned for your child and want to get them checked out for seasonal allergies, be sure to contact us at Pediatric Associates of Plainview, our center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics, to get them the help they need today!
What Are The Signs Of Seasonal Allergies?
With the different season changes, some allergies can be more severe than others. Pollen can affect children and adults differently depending on the severity of it each year. Some symptoms that may indicate that your child is suffering from seasonal allergies may include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Slight eye irritation
If your child is having more of an allergic reaction much more severe than the common symptoms, be sure to consult our center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics as soon as possible. Your child may be allergic to more than pollen if the common symptoms are appearing to be much worse.
Aside from the most common side effects of seasonal allergies, it is a good idea to keep a close eye out for trouble breathing or feverish symptoms. Pollen can be so strong, especially as spring and summer roll around. Freshly mowed grass and weeds also play a part in enhancing allergies. Allergies can cause a suffocating feeling and sometimes can lead your child to develop asthma. Asthma is never a good sign, especially when coupled with seasonal allergies.
How Can I Help My Child?
If your child has not yet been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, be sure to contact our center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics to make sure your child just has allergies and that it is not something more serious. However, if you are aware of your child’s allergies and you wish to help prevent them from worsening, be sure to:
- Protect your child at night with a dust mite-proof cover over their mattress.
- Remove any heavy curtains which can be a leading factor of dust collection.
- Avoid smoking in the same home as your child as the smoke can agitate allergies.
- Keep your child’s room clean and try to avoid potent cleaners.
–
Contact Our Center For Oyster Bay Pediatrics
If you suspect that your child is suffering from seasonal allergies, the team at Pediatric Associates of Plainview is here to help! At our top-of-the-line center for Oyster Bay Pediatrics, we can properly diagnose your child and provide them with the help and care they need. Don’t let your child continue to suffer through seasonal allergies, contact us today!
Oyster Bay Pediatrics Fax Number – (516) 822-5602
Give Us Your Name & Email – We Will Contact You!
