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…

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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…

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Gwyneth Paltrow's Dad Had Throat Cancer

Image by Andrea Raffin from Wikipedia Gwyneth Paltrow recently divulged that her father was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and eventually passed away in 2002 due to pneumonia complications. It is unclear exactly what type of throat cancer Mr. Paltrow had, but it could have been anything from tonsil cancer to vocal cord cancer . Depending on the location, symptoms and physical signs (ie, neck mass ) may have been present which ultimately would have required a biopsy. Once the…

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Singer George Michael With Tracheostomy

Reuters reported today that singer George Michael suffered from severe pneumonia and underwent a tracheostomy during his hospitalization. A tracheostomy is when a hole is made in the throat for a patient to breath through. Here is a video of what his trach surgery may have looked like. Michael apparently was in the middle of a tour when he became ill requiring him to cancel upcoming shows. A tracheostomy is often performed whenever a patient has been intubated (tube down the throa…

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