Bacteria
Ear infections are vanishing: four key ideas for parents
I remember, not long ago, seeing many children with ear infections every day I was in the office ? children that were often up screaming the night before. Today it's not surprising to go an entire day…
Clindamycin
Clindamycin is strong antibiotic used to treat difficult bacterial infections in children. You might see a brand name such as Cleocin on the label. It comes as liquid or capsules, and is also availabl…
Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin is an antibiotic used to treat many different types of bacterial infections in children. You might see a brand name such as Biaxin on the label. It comes as liquid, tablets, or extended…
Cefdinir
Cefdinir is an antibiotic used to treat many different types of bacterial infections in children. You might see a brand name such as Omnicef on the label. It belongs to the cephalosporin family of ant…
Amoxicillin-Clavulanate
Amoxicillin-clavulanate is a strong combination antibiotic used to treat many different types of bacterial infections in children. The clavulanate makes it difficult for some resistant bacteria to wit…
Ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone is a broad spectrum antibiotic that can be given by injection. It's used to treat many different types of bacterial infections in children and is sometimes called by the brand name Rocephi…
Cefuroxime
Cefuroxime is an antibiotic used to treat many different types of bacterial infections in children. You might see a brand name such as Ceftin on the label. It belongs to the cephalosporin family of an…
Bad Breath Causes
Dr. Greene on the causes of bad breath... Most kids would go out of their way to avoid eating garlic or onions, yet it is not unusual for a child to wake up with very smelly breath. Throughout the day…
Dry Dog Food Warning
It's time to add a new habit to pet care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have traced a lingering 19-state Salmonella outbreak to the handling of dry dog food and dog treats. There have…
Ear Drops for Some Ear Infections
If fluid from the middle ear space is draining out of the ear in a child with an acute ear infection (acute otitis media), there must be an opening in the eardrum - the air-tight membrane that separat…
Canada is Calming Bacteria
The tide can be turned! Canada has scored a victory in the bacteria battle. For more than a decade, the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been increasing around the world, and has appeared …
Cough Season
We all want to help a coughing child. But a big difference looms between what should happen and what does happen when kids have bronchitis and other cough illnesses. Even though overall antibiotic use…
Antibiotic Use Dropping
Antibiotic use in children increased steadily through the 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's, and dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria increased as well. Researchers at Harvard University looked at re…
Duct Tape, Emery Boards, and Warts
Treatments for warts abound, varying from as gentle and simple as taping a patch of banana peel on before bed, to as high-tech and powerful as superpulsed carbon-dioxide-laser vaporization. A study pu…
Contagious Heart Disease
Group A strep is a common cause of illness in children. Usually the disease is as mild as strep throat, but strep can also cause serious illnesses, including toxic shock, "flesh-eating disease", and r…
Body Art
Tattoos and body piercing continue to become more popular. The largest study yet of this subject, published in the January 2002 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, reports that now most university u…
Antibiotics for Anthrax?
I've been asked by many parents, "What is the best antibiotic to have at home to treat children with anthrax?" Many have heard that the drug on everyone's lips, Cipro, can have serious side effects in…
College and Meningitis
When your child first packs up and heads off for college, it is a bittersweet moment. How horrible if meningitis were to make the separation permanent. The first year is the critical time. Freshmen li…
Ear Piercing – How Early is Too Early?
Many parents opt to wait on ear piercing until a child is able to make the decision for herself (or himself). Some parents find it desirable for their children to have pierced ears as babies. But how …
Beneficial Bacteria to Prevent Ear Infections?
Dr. Greene's take on beneficial bacteria for ear infections... We know that active culture yogurt can prevent gastrointestinal infections. Could something similar work in the ears? (more…)…