
While tetanus can cause some serious symptoms including “lockjaw," it is completely preventable with a vaccination. The DTaP vaccine is used to prevent tetanus (along with diphtheria and pertussis) and your child will get their first series of shots at 2, 4, and 6 months. Your child will also need another tetanus shot between the ages of 15 to 18 months old and between 4-6 years old.
Most children will develop symptoms within two weeks of exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms of tetanus include,
- Painful and severe muscle spasms
- Shoulder, jaw, and neck stiffness
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever

How your pediatricians in Kissimmee, Florida can help if your child has strep throat.
If your child is suffering from a sore throat that doesn’t go away, it could be something more. It could be a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcal bacteria. Your child could have strep throat.
Your pediatrician can help cure strep throat so your child feels better fast. The pediatricians at Pediatrics of Central Florida offer comprehensive pediatric care including treatment for common conditions like strep throat. They have several convenient office locations in Kissimmee, Orlando, and St. Cloud, Florida to help your child feel better.
So, how do you know if your child has strep throat? There are a few signs and symptoms to pay attention to, including:
- Throat soreness that comes on suddenly and is severe
- Swallowing that is painful and difficult
- A high fever of over 101 degrees
- Lymph node swelling and swollen tonsils
- White or yellow patches on the back of your child’s throat
Strep throat does not go away on its own, and it is highly contagious. If you think your child might have strep throat, you need to protect yourself and others from the infection too. Remember to:
- Minimize your child’s contact with others
- Avoid sharing glasses, dishes, or utensils that your child has used
- Wash your hands frequently
- Wipe down commonly touched areas like doorknobs and water faucets with disinfectant
If you think your child might have strep throat, seek out the help of your doctor right away. Your doctor can perform a rapid strep test, which will confirm the presence of streptococcal bacteria within a few minutes.
If your child does have strep throat, your doctor will prescribe a regimen of antibiotics to clear up the infection. It’s important for your child to take all of the required doses in order to fully eliminate the bacteria.
In addition, you may also want to give your child Children’s Tylenol to help reduce fever and pain. Be sure to follow your pediatrician’s recommendation on how long to keep your child out of school and away from others.
Remember to get your child a new toothbrush to avoid re-infection with the bacteria, and thoroughly wash all bedding, dishes, and utensils your child uses.
Having strep throat is miserable for your child and for you. Your pediatrician can get your child back on track to good health. To find out more about strep throat symptoms and treatment, call the pediatricians at Pediatrics of Central Florida. You can reach them at their offices by calling:
- (407) 846-3455 for Oak Street Kissimmee
- (407) 933-5985 for Orange Blossom Trail Kissimmee
- (407) 857-2816 for Orlando
- (407) 891-0479 for St. Cloud

- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- A popping or snapping sound at the moment of impact or injury
- Trouble straightening out the limb or affected area
- Unable to put weight on the area
- Limited range of motion or unable to move normally
First, your pediatrician will run X-rays to determine the location and severity of the break. Your doctor will place a splint or cast around the broken bone to provide support and stabilization and to restrict certain movements that could impede healing.

- Increased urgency to urinate, even if there is no output
- Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
- A decreased output of urine
- Children may complain of a burning sensation when urinating
- Older children may complain of lower stomach or back pain
- Younger children may cry when urinating
- Wetting the bed
If your child is showing symptoms of a UTI you must see your pediatrician right away. A simple urine sample is all that’s needed to be able to detect the presence of bacteria. We can examine the urine sample under the microscope and provide results in a matter of minutes. The kind of bacteria that’s present will help us determine the type of antibiotics we will prescribe.
It’s important to seek treatment right away, as untreated UTIs can lead to more serious problems including kidney infections, abscesses, and sepsis. Your pediatrician can prescribe antibiotics. Your child should also be getting plenty of fluids during the course of their treatment to help flush out bacteria.
This website includes materials that are protected by copyright, or other proprietary rights. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use, as defined in the copyright laws, requires the written permission of the copyright owners.