Sick Visits

When your child is sick, it’s painful to see them feeling awful. Board-certified pediatrician Mary Catherine Arrieta, MD, CPG, understands that you want and need fast help when your child’s under the weather, so she offers convenient sick visits at Southside Pediatric Center in Petersburg, Virginia. Book an appointment online or call the office to get your child on the road to recovery today.

What are sick visits?

Sick visits are as-needed medical care for new or recurrent health issues. Healthy and active children can still develop issues from time to time, and sick visits at Southside Pediatric Center meet any medical needs they have when those problems occur. 

Sick visits are just like sick care for adults: Essentially, you can reach out to the office whenever your child’s feeling bad or has signs of a problem. 

When might my child need sick visits?

There are many reasons you could need to schedule a sick visit for your child, with the most common being:

• Asthma
• Allergies
• Coughing
• Cold symptoms
• Flu symptoms
• Wheezing
• Sore throat
• Ear pain
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Red or pink eyes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain during urination
• Constipation 
• Diarrhea
• Rashes
• Burns
• Sprains
• Health issues related to a chronic condition like diabetes

Although the main focus of sick visits is usually an acute illness, you can reach out for help anytime you have a health or wellness concern. For example, if you notice symptoms of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or any mental or behavioral issue, don’t hesitate to contact the Southside Pediatric Center office to arrange a sick visit. 

What happens during sick visits?

During sick visits, Dr. Arrieta’s goals are to diagnose the issue and prescribe a remedy that helps your child recover as fast as possible. 

She takes your child’s vital signs, performs an exam, reviews medical history, and discusses symptoms to help determine the issues contributing to your child’s sickness. 

Dr. Arrieta may administer some treatments in the office, like treating a rash. She also prescribes medications and recovery guidelines to follow at home. By the time you and your child leave the office, they’ll already be on the proper recovery path. 

How long does it take to see the doctor for sick visits?

At Southside Pediatric Center, your child can get same-day care when sick. Dr. Arrieta always makes room in her schedule to see your child and help them start recovering right away.

Southside Pediatric Center provides accessible same-day sick visits for their pediatric patients and parents. If your child is feeling bad, call the office or click on the online scheduler to request a sick visit today.