Providing Infectious Disease Expertise for Children

While primary care doctors and clinicians are familiar with treating common infections in young people, when an illness is
severe, complicated or hasn’t responded to a standard course of antibiotics, a specialist is often needed.

Using leading-edge diagnostic tools and treatments, pediatric infectious disease clinicians with Lehigh Valley Physician Group and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital care for kids with an array of infections, such as osteomyelitis, salmonella, tick-borne illnesses, MRSA and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

“We have found that children sometimes go to Philadelphia for things that we can take care of here because [parents] don’t know that we offer the services,” explains Tibisay Villalobos, MD, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital.

The team has specialized training in bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections from birth through adolescence, and works closely with referring doctors and clinicians in dermatology, hematology, oncology, pulmonology and other pediatric specialties. If a child is hospitalized, Dr. Villalobos’ team consults with them and their family until discharge and performs follow-ups.

“We partner with the families from the very beginning of treatment, until the kids return to their normal selves,” she says.

LVPG Pediatric Infectious Diseases doctors and clinicians also use advanced laboratory services, including molecular testing and imaging modalities like computed tomography and MRI to make accurate, fast diagnoses.

“We have everything to sedate those children [when needed] and keep them comfortable and safe,” Dr. Villalobos adds.

To prepare young people who travel abroad for vacation, mission or school trips, or family visits, LVPG doctors and clinicians also provide care at a pediatric travel clinic, providing vaccinations, preventive medication and education about destination risks.

“We offer the only dedicated pediatric travel clinic in eastern PA outside of [the University of Pennsylvania in] Philadelphia,” Dr. Villalobos says.

On-site and/or virtually, her team provides guidance on necessary pretravel immunizations and medications specific to each child’s destination and age/weight in the weeks or months before a trip. Examples include administration of yellow fever vaccines, prescriptions to prevent malaria, or addressing challenges associated with altitude or motion sickness.

“We provide education and safety information for while they are there, when to look for medical attention, and what to look for should they get sick after returning to the United States,” Dr. Villalobos says.

The office, at 1210 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown, provides flexible appointments for children’s nonurgent travel-elated health needs before and after their trip.