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Dr. Sarah Kohl

Travel Medicine
Pittsburgh , PA
37 years experience

Locations

Office

Pittsburgh , PA

Address

1370 Washington Pike, Suite 107, Pittsburgh , PA
Directions

About

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Travel Medicine

Doctor Q&A

319 Answers
285 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: You may breastfeed your infant if you have a cold. In fact you will transfer antibodies for that particular cold to your infant in the breast milk! ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
From birth: Your child is likely to be interested in other children from birth. At first your baby will want to watch others and have them talk or play w/ him/her... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: Baby wipes are a convenient way to clean your infant's diaper area. They work well but contain a lot of chemicals.If your baby develops rashes from t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Porta-crib/playpen: Curious toddlers and mobile infants present a challenge to their parents when traveling. Using a portable crib as a playpen can help. Some parents br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
It is safe: Anthrax vaccine is used for military personnel and laboratory workers. Some experience mild discomfort at the vaccine site- redness, tenderness, itch... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes, lots of pain: Dengue fever's nickname is 'break bone fever' because every part of your body hurts so much it feels as if your bones are broken. People with dengue ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
See ENT doc: If you suffered a broken nose, or are having trouble breathing through your nose see your local ENT doctor. There are many possible causes, each with ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: People who have gastro-esophageal reflux (gerd) and take certain medications which block acid production, such as Prilosec or nexium, (esomeprazole) a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Hard to treat: Bed bugs are a global problem. They hitch-hikie from place to place in luggage, etc. When traveling check your hotel for small insects the size of an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
By Example: You will teach your child many things. Comment on specific things you find beautiful, your child will learn from your example. Finding beauty everwhe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Not sure: Increased pressure in the brain/skull is often associated with vomiting. We don't know exactly how the pressure triggers the vomiting center in the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: Several new studies show that toddlers of women who smoke during pregnancy have an increase in negative behavior such as rebelliousness, compared to t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Not Yet: Human monocytic erlichiosis (hme) is caused by a bacteria in the erlichia family. The disease which has fever, headaches, muscle ache, and fatigue as... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
2-7 days: Dengue fever is increasing and is a common cause for fever in travelers returning from the tropics or subtropics. Symptoms develop 3-14 days after mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Please clarify?: Please clarify: do you mean travel to recieve medical care, travel to give medical care or medical risks of traveling?
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Screens & nets: Sleeping in houses with screens on windows or under a Permethrin treated bed net are the best way to avoid mosquitoes at night. Keep your sleeping a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Depends upon med: Stop the medication and allow to wear off. If it is an antibiotic she should be back to normal in a day or so. If she took an medication to treat symp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Common side effect: Babies may have minor side effects from vaccines. Many will sleep longer for the first few days after vaccination, others develop fever or grumpiness.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Diarrhea with Blood : Bloody diarreha results when the intestinal wall is irritated. You will see red blood in your poop. This can be from an infection, chronic disease, or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Travel within year: Travel outside of your commlunity exposes you to different illnesses. Let your doctor know if you have traveled outside of your community or country w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
See your doctor: There are many reasons for traveling numb feelings in your body. A careful history and physical exam can help you figure out what the cause is. Know w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Fever & pains: Dengue fever is characterized by fever, headache behind the eyes, and severe muscle aches. Some go on to severe internal oozing. The only way you can... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Unproven: There are many drugs reported to work for motion sickness. Most work a little bit but have significant side effects including drowsiness, etc. Epanau... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Antibiotics: Traveler's diarrhea(td) is a bacterial diarrhea spread in water and food. Different countries have different bacteria with different susceptibility ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: Malaria is not transmitted in the USA. However, if you have been traveling to an area with malaria you could become infected and 'break out' with the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
No: Jet lag is the mismatch between your internal biologic clock and the external world.Your internal clock is set by sunlight, espeically morning and eve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Depends upon cause: Vaginal odor can have many causes. Before you leave, check with your doctor to make sure you don't have an infection causing the odor. If this is a co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Too many mosquitoes: Many researchers are trying newer techniques to rid malaria infected areas of mosquitoes. Poisoned sugar water, sterile males and other tatics are und... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
The Web: Purchasing an individual international health policy is easy and affordable. Don't forget to includ the option for evacuation or repatriation in the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Unkown: Lymerix, a vaccine to prevent lyme disease, was a 3-dose vaccine given over a 12 month period. At this point in time, no one knows how long the immuni... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Affects the brain: Mefloquine is used to prevent malaria. In some people, it can cause unpleasant side effects such as vivid dreams or anxiety or depression. In those wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Biopsy or blood test: Leishmania (kala-azar) is best diagnosed by taking a careful history, including travel to areas where leishmania is found. Many tests are avaialble, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Your preference: Cloth and disposable diapers each have their own advantages and disadvantages when traveling. Do you prefer to tote around dirty diapers to avoid incr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
No: The infection will not worsen, but your baby may be bothered more by the symptoms. A stuffy nose makes it difficult for your baby to equilibrate press... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: Vaccines are safe and effective. You pediatrician can review the specifics of each vaccine with you. Nowadays you can get combination vaccines which ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: You and your baby are susceptible to jet lag which is cause by rapid (plane) travel east or west. Based on personal experience, your child is likely t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Sunlight: Babies and parents suffer jet lag (an imbalance between your internal clock and local time) after rapid east- or west-bound travel such as a plane fli... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: Circumcision is temporarily painful for you son. Talk to your doctor about ways to minimize the discomfort with pain medications and soothing techniqu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes-for most: Traveling when pregnant requires planning for the health of both mother & baby. If travel cannot be delayed, vaccines chosen for the destination shou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Unkown: It is not know whether travel to high altitude poses risk for mother or baby. Limited data is avaialble. Some experts feel that a short trip to less t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
No: Parents often worry about the side effects of routine vaccines. Vaccines are the safest, most studied substances we use in medicine. Many people forg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Humidify air: Babies can develop nosebleeds if the delicate skin inside their nose cracks and dries out or through mechanical trauma such as nasal suction or nose p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Depends upon age: Of course you will need the basics: food, diapers, and a small portable stroller. Check to see if a car seat is available at your destination, if not... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Minor pain & redness: The new rabies vaccines is well tolerated. Most don't have any reaction, but some get minor symptoms such as redness, soreness, swelling, headache et... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Yes: Traveling is safe with proper preparation. Traveling by car? Seat belts and frequent rests to keep the drive alert are essential. Traveling abroad? Ch... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
It Depends: Check with your surgeon. The exact recommendation depends upon what type of surgery you had, how quickly you healed, your type of transportation, and ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Rare: In the USA Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) occurs in about 1 to 2 per 100, 000 regardless of immunization status. GBS can be triggered by viral & b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
Not really: Bird flu is spread by migrating wild birds and domestic birds (chickens etc) the risk to travelers is very low unless you will be handling birds, espe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
A little bit: Traveling with lung disease can be slightly more complicated. Planning for routine medications, including oxygen takes some advanced planning. Discuss... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Sarah Kohl
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
No: Air travel is not risky for mother or her fetus. However, restrictions are in place to limit the possibility of an unplanned delivery on the plane. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

4
Recommendations
761
Thank you notes
Mar 9, 2014
Dr Kohl has a vast fund of knowledge that allows for effectively contributing to this online community of health.
Dec 3, 2012
Excellent travel and immunization physician.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Kohl is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks. We did discuss it. Finally stopped the vomit festival & severe eczema across my little ones. Gaining weight well- finally have all 3 in the teens for BMI measures (up from 1st, 3rd & 6th). Gro...Read More
HealthTap member
thanks dr kohl and i do all of those things minus the exercise part i was just sick two weeks ago though with similar side effects so i find it strange that it has come back again its not even wi...Read More
HealthTap member
I never hear of anyone having this. The symptoms seem to fit past experience. Is there any test to know if you have had this and is it something once you've had it your immune system blocks?

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, PA
Graduated 1986MD

Awards

Board Certified American Board Pediatrics 1989-present
Certificate in Travel Health 2010
Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics
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