Colds & Flus in Adults
Acute Rhinosinusitis
Sinusitis is a clinical diagnosis. Patients typically present with purulent nasal discharge and facial pain or other URI symptoms. The vast majority of patients with acute rhino sinusitis will be viral in nature and will not benefit from antibiotics Patients with prolonged symptoms, more than 7-10 days, without improvement or continued fevers past 2-3 days […]
MYTH: Cough syrups prevent coughs
There is NO GOOD EVIDENCE for or against the effectiveness of OTC medications in acute cough. Studies have reported adverse effects of these medications and described infrequent, mainly minor side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache and drowsiness.
Goodness Gracious We’re &*@ing Up Sinusitis
Antibiotics usually do not help sinus problems. Antibiotics cost money. Antibiotics have risks.
How Long Does a Cough From Respiratory Illness Last?
It is completely normal and expected to have a cough for 2 or even 3 WEEKS after onset of illness!!! It is also important to emphasize to your patients that they should ONLY seek care if they are having worsening symptoms or have alarm symptoms (i.e. High fever, bloody or rusty sputum, and/or worsening shortness […]
EM Don’ts
Avoid CT of the head in asymptomatic adult patients in the emergency department with syncope, insignificant trauma and a normal neurological evaluation. Avoid CT pulmonary angiography in emergency department patients with a low-pretest probability of pulmonary embolism and either a negative Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria (PERC) or a negative D-dimer. Avoid lumbar spine imaging in […]
Parotitis…simple and straight forward
Do Patients with Strep Throat Need to Be Treated with Antibiotics?
Background:Â Streptococcal pharyngitis is a common presentation to primary care and Emergency Department physicians. Every year, millions of patients are treated with antibiotics for pharyngitis. However, less than 10% of these patients actually have strep pharyngitis (Barnett 2013).
Antibiotics for acute maxillary sinusitis in adults
Antibiotics for acute maxillary sinusitis in adults Anneli Ahovuo-Saloranta, Ulla-Maija Rautakorpi, Oleg V Borisenko, Helena Liira, John W Williams Jr, Marjukka Mäkelä Published Online: 11 FEB 2014 About 80% of participants treated without antibiotics improve within two weeks. Clinicians need to weigh the small benefits of antibiotic treatment against the potential for adverse effects at […]
