Vaccine to Prevent Frequent Ear Infections, Sinus Infections, and Upper Respiratory Infections

Did you know that there is a vaccine that effectively and significantly reduces ear infections, sinusitis, and upper respiratory infections of all ages? Did you know that this vaccine is available in most if not all pharmacies and primary care offices since 2000, the latest and greatest version of this vaccine since 2010? The pediatric version of the vaccine is called Prevnar13 and the adult version is called Pneumovax23. Commonly, this vaccine is called the "pneumonia shot," and it i…

4/18/2021 0

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Smell Loss After Upper Respiratory Infection

Losing the sense of smell is not uncommon with upper respiratory infections (URI), typically with a viral common cold or flu. According to some studies, smell loss or decrease may occur between 18-45% of  patients who suffer from a URI. It is estimated that about 1/3 of such patients will fully recover their sense of smell with 2-3 years, most within the first year. Unfortunately, that leaves 2/3 of these patients who suffer from some degree of smell dysfunction. The key determining …

1/11/2018 0

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Dyson Humidifier - Best Humidifier on the Market?

Hot steam showers are often helpful in alleviating symptoms of  upper respiratory infection  with  cough . It can ease the  nasal congestion  and calm the coughing down. Due to these beneficial effects and the fact that dry airways can make a cough worse, a humidifier is a helpful device to have in a room. Humidifier use when the air is dry during the winter can also help prevent upper respiratory infections from happening as well as minimize nosebleeds . Keep in mind that although humidi…

10/10/2015 0

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Personal Steam Inhalers/Humidifiers to Treat Cough and Congestion

People with an upper respiratory infection with cough have found that taking a hot steam shower is often helpful for their symptoms. It can ease the nasal congestion and calm the coughing down. Due to these beneficial effects and the fact that dry airways can make a cough worse, a humidifier is a helpful device to have in a room. Beyond a humidifier, one can also purchase personal portable steam inhalers designed to put over the face. Cost can run anywhere from $20 to several hundred …

2/22/2015 2

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Recurrent Infections of the Ear, Sinus May be Due to Immunodeficiency

Image Courtesy of marcolm at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Your immune system is what helps to fight off infections. But if the immune system is deficient in some way, a child or adult may experience recurrent infections. When it comes to ENT, such repeated infections may only involve the ear / sinus , or manifest itself as frequent URI. What are some key questions that may prompt an investigation for an immunodeficiency, especially if surgical management fails to resolve? • Need more than fo…

1/18/2015 0

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Elderberry Juice Helps Reduce the Severity and Duration of Viral URI (Flu and Cold)

Image by Lefterov in Wikipedia There has been more research being produced that suggests that Elderberry Juice may help reduce the severity and duration of viral upper respiratory illnesses including the common cold and the flu. However, in order for its beneficial effects to be maximally achieved, it needs to be taken within 24-48 hours of symptom onset. The suggested dosage for adults is 1 tablespoon 4x per day for 3-5 days. For children, the dosage is 1 tablespoon 2x per day for 3 d…

1/08/2015 0

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Nasal Spray Cure for the Common Cold?

Well maybe not cure per se, but at least effective treatment to reduce the duration and severity of the viral cold at least. Austrian researchers have reported on the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 211 patients suffering from early symptoms of the common cold. [ link ] Treatment of the non-placebo group involved using a nasal spray containing carrageenan (a sulphated polysaccharide found in red seaweed/algae) three times per day for 7 days. Cold…

12/07/2013 2

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Top 3 Reasons Why Your Child Can't Shake that Cough

Guest Blog Post by Dr. Julie Wei Any parent who has lived with a toddler or preschooler knows the pain of hearing a child’s endless cough, daytime, nighttime, all the time... It seems as if the cough never clears up in a day or two, or after a cold, but may last for weeks. Even if it does clear up, it always seems to return without much warning, and can be more stubborn than your 4 year old about eating vegetables! If you are wondering why cough medications can't stop your child's…

4/13/2013 0

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How Long Does it Take for a Cough to Clear Up?

Hypothetically speaking, how long would it take for a cough to clear up if a person comes down with an acute respiratory infection ? According to a telephone survey of 493 adults, the lay-public expect the cough to clear up in 7 to 9 days. Now, is this one week guess actually true? Not at all... In reality, it takes about 17.8 days on average. This number was determined on a recent study that reviewed 19 prior studies that determined how long a cough lasts for. It should also be m…

1/14/2013 0

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Arena Stage 'My Fair Lady' Laid Low by the Flu with Performance Cancellations

It has been an early and bad start to the flu season in the DC metro area. It is just the beginning of the traditional 3 month flu season and flu numbers have already exceeded last year's . Although professional singers may feel they should have a special exemption from this debilitating illness which also adversely affects the voice, it is not to be... The flu has literally crippled performances of "My Fair Lady" at the Arena Stage this season with two show cancellations a…

1/07/2013 1

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"Bitter" Taste Sense Contributes to Immune Defense

As children, we all learned about the 4 different taste qualities the human tongue can appreciate: salty, sugar, bitter, and sour. Savory or umami was added in 1985. "Calcium" has been proposed in 2008 as well as more recently, "fatty" taste. However, we are slowly learning that "taste" is much more complex than simply the ability to perceive the taste qualities associated with food. That tongue map we all memorized in elementary school? It's a lie... Rea…

10/12/2012 0

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Honey Helps Relieve Coughing in Kids

Ever since the FDA has withdrawn in 2008 common over-the-counter medications to treat cough in kids, there has been a conundrum among pediatricians and their young patient charges on how to address the cough that occurs with viral upper respiratory infections (common cold). Beyond humidified mist, hydration, vapor baths, saline spray, and sleep, there are still some other effective options to try... Sore throats (and coughing) can be soothed by swallowing honey straight-up or slightly dilute…

8/11/2012 0

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How Many Infections in a Child is "Normal" Per Year?

Kids get a lot of infections... but at what point should a parent be concerned on how often these infections occur, particularly upper respiratory infections? A German study went about to determine the answer to just that question... They prospectively followed 760 children born in 1990 and followed them for 12 years. Parents recorded the child’s illnesses in a diary and answered structured questions yearly up to age 12. This is what they found... The mean number of infections per year f…

3/21/2012 0

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Natural Remedies for a Sore Throat, Cough, and Viral Infections

Homeopathy and alternative medicine often get a bum rap, but they have come up with some treatments for sore throats and upper respiratory viral illnesses that actually have been proven to work. Here's a few... 1) Honey Sore throats (and coughing ) can be soothed by swallowing honey straight-up or slightly diluted with warm water with honey to make it easier to swallow. The best time to do this is at bedtime given it will stick around for awhile (eating/drinking will wash away the…

12/11/2011 0

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1 Out of 5 Kids With Viral URI Develop Ear Infections

According to a  study published in 2011, more than 20 percent of young children with colds or other respiratory viral infections will develop middle ear infections of varying severity-including some mild infections. This finding is not really that surprising. Even adults have ear symptoms with a viral URI including ear fullness and difficulty popping the ear. Though adults do what they can to keep the ears clear by valsalva, swallowing, chewing gum, yawning, or proactive ear popping, kid…

2/16/2011 0

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Treatment of Cough in Kids with the Common Cold

Ever since the FDA has withdrawn common over-the-counter medications to treat cough in kids, there has been a conundrum among pediatricians and their young patient charges on how to address the cough that occurs with viral upper respiratory infections (common cold). Beyond humidified mist, hydration, vapor baths, saline spray, and sleep, there are still some other options to try before going to prescription narcotic cough suppressants... There has been a recent study published in the Arc…

12/04/2007 0

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