Category Archives: infections

Did you know that DEATHS from hepatitis C are now more common in the US than HIV?

As a result of this finding, the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC ) is launching a “No More Hepatitis” campaign with screening recommendations.  Currently, the CDC  suggests hepatitis labs for patient who ever injected illegal drugs, received clotting factors made … Continue reading

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Face pain? Sinuses acting up?

The sinuses are four pairs of hollow spaces in the bones of your face.   The hollow spaces are lined with tissue that makes thin, watery mucus.  The sinuses connect to each other and drain through the nose.  Can you tell … Continue reading

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Want more information on hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C  is a virus that may cause long-standing liver disease.  It is spread through the blood of a person with hepatitis C.  You can’t get it through casual contact—hugging, sharing utensils/drinking glasses, kissing, using public restrooms, sneezing, coughing or … Continue reading

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Frogs do not cause warts.

I see warts commonly, today in fact. They are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are more than 100 types of HPV.  HPV infects the skin where there are nicks in the skin and causes cells to proliferate and … Continue reading

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2.4 million swimmer’s ear visits a year! How to not get one. . .

The Centers for Disease Control forwarded on this astronomical number in a bulletin on external ear infections.  There are simple steps to do before and after swimming (or coming in contact with water), to greatly reduce your risk of this painful … Continue reading

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MRSA. Do you have it? How to avoid it? How to treat it!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to incise and drain this spectacularly large,  red abscess.  Culture is not back yet, but I suspect (and treated for) MRSA, methicillin-resistant staph aureus.  Here are the nuts and bolts about diagnosis and treatment of MRSA. 1/3 … Continue reading

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Did your pedicure give you an infection?

I was teaching physicians the other day and helped take off a pus-filled, red and angry  ingrown toenail.  This is immensely rewarding.  When the toenail digs into the skin folds on the feet and every step causes pain, we physicians … Continue reading

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What to do about molluscum?

I had a conscientious mom “up in arms” about her daughter having two molluscum lesions on her neck. I calmed her a bit and then discussed the treatment options with her. . . Molluscum is a poxvirus causing a chronic localized … Continue reading

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What to do if you think you have shingles. . .

If you’ve had chicken pox, the herpesvirus is hibernating in your body.  It can reactivate anytime and cause shingles.   Shingles is a painful , itchy, burning, bugs-under-your-skin-feeling rash on one side of the body.  See your doctor for confirmation. The goals of antiviral therapy are … Continue reading

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Do you need antibiotics before seeing the dentist?

My mom recently was told by her dental office that due to orthopedic hardware in her ankle she’d need to take antibiotics before  teeth cleanings.  There are guidelines to specifically address this.  And, no antibiotics are needed. Every time you brush … Continue reading

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