Dr. Christopher Abel

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Yes: Although not typical of strep throat, coughs can be seen in a variety of situations. However, I would generally not recommend any cough medicines for... Read More

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901 viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 48-year-old member asked:

If you have the flu when is it safe to return to work again?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Fever free: Good rule of thumb with infectious diseases is you need to be fever free for 24 hours. Just think of the golden rule - if you would be upset if someo... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Jay Hoffman agrees1 doctor agrees

A 57-year-old female asked:

How to reduce snacking?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Drink more water: Snacking in itself is not unhealthy. Making bad choices when snacking is. Often our bodies cannot tell the difference between hunger and thirst, so ... Read More

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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 40-year-old member asked:

What does hydrophobia have to do with hydrogen?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Nothing: Hydrophobia is usually referring to the late stages of rabies infection in humans. This has nothing to do with hydrogen.

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Gutti Rao and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 37-year-old member asked:

Is a healthy diet better than protein shakes?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Yes.: Protein shakes are simply what they say - extra protein. Likewise, a healthy diet is healthy as it includes fruits, vegetables and all elements of th... Read More

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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Evan Altman and 2 doctors agree3 doctors agree

A 37-year-old member asked:

When is it safe for my child to leave the hospital if immunocompromised?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Depends: Your physician will best be able to make that decision. While there are risks with leaving the hospital, there are also risks of staying in the hospi... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Alan Ali agrees1 doctor agrees

A 52-year-old female asked:

Is there a stomach flu going around?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Possibly: Depends on where you live? As we are at the start of the school year gastroenteritis cases definitely start to increase.

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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler and 4 doctors agree5 doctors agree

A member asked:

22 yr old boy having an infection on his ass and near his thigh and its red colour bump and itcing and paining

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Needs to see Dr.: Sounds like he may have an abscess that might need to be drained. If infected will also need to be placed on appropriate antibiotics.

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Carla Enriquez and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 33-year-old female asked:

My 3 y/o got his flu shot thurs. has had fever since fri from 101.5 to 104.6 highest. could the shot cause this? asymptomatic other than fever.

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Doubtful: You can't catch the flu from the shot. Likely he picked up some other bug while in the office getting their shot? If you are concerned i would recom... Read More

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A female asked:

4-yr-old daughter has symptoms incl. bloated abdomen (no pain on palpation), pale to yellow stool, tingling in feet, occasional random high fever?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

History & Physical: Symptoms you are describing don't easily fit together. Before jumping to tests a thorough history and complete physical exam will help lead your doct... Read More

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5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 27-year-old female asked:

Can my 1 and 1/2 month baby travel in ac coach of train for 20 hrs. he has congestion in nose?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Should be fine: Just try and keep him away from any drafty areas. Since he has probably not had his first set of shots either, keeping him away from people other tha... Read More

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5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson agrees1 doctor agrees

A 16-year-old female asked:

I have a double ear infection i've been to the doctor they gave me ear drops and an antibiotic the ear drops wont go in how can i get my ear uncloged ?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

May need a wick: Hard to tell without seeing your ears, but it sounds like you have otitis externa (outer ear infection). Sometimes when the ear canal gets so swollen... Read More

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5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 44-year-old member asked:

Whats average weight & height for children at 12?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See below: Boys ~ 61 inches and 90 pounds girls ~ 60 inches and just under 90 pounds.

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5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 43-year-old member asked:

Is it dangerous to touch the goo inside glow in the dark toys?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Not recommended: Simply touching the material should not be harmful, but would definitely not leave it in contact with the skin for extended periods of time.

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Michael Sparacino agrees1 doctor agrees

A member asked:

Dear doctor my daughter, who is 20, has just discovered a lump the size of a chocolate peanut next to her tonsils. very worried ?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Check in with her MD: Could be any number of things. Best course of action would be to check in with her doctor who can perform a full history and physical exam, and then ... Read More

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Carla Enriquez agrees1 doctor agrees

A 36-year-old member asked:

Who should get chicken pox (varicella) vaccine?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

ALL children: And anyone who has not had chickenpox.

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5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Yash Khanna agrees1 doctor agrees

A 42-year-old female asked:

I was told by my pain specialist i would have to be treated with medicine the rest of my life. will this shorten my life?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See your doctor: Depends on what medicine they are placing you on. This would be an appropriate question for the prescribing physician.

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 27-year-old female asked:

How can i shed 20 kgs by diet, kindly guide me a proper vegetarian diet plan without eggs and meat?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Simple Equation: There is no specific diet that will make you lose weight. The most important thing to remember is your caloric expenditure (ie, exercist) must be mor... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A female asked:

My daughter is 12 and she is very overweight how can i help her loose weight while she attends school?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Diet & Nutrition: While you can control what foods she has to eat while at home, she is more in control while at school. Preparing her lunch at home instead of allowin... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Terri Washington agrees1 doctor agrees

A 18-year-old female asked:

If your16 years old and are 5ft 2inch could it mean you have a growth hormone disorder?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Depends: You need to see your physician for a full evaluation. Your height is determined by genetics as well as where you are in pubertal development. A full... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 26-year-old female asked:

Why does 9month old babie's urine smell like celery?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See your doctor: Could be a variety of things, but seeing their physician and having their urine checked would be the first step.

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 26-year-old female asked:

My 3 year old son has a mystery lung problem for over a year now. he has chronic bronchitis and multiple hospitalizations. he waas hospitalized with107 fever andnow peeling skin on his toes and fingers. what could it be?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Agree with both : I agree with both drs. Ferguson and belilovsky. This sounds like a complicated case and more than likely has more than 1 answer. The fevers/skin def... Read More

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5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 19-year-old female asked:

What does it mean when your tummy feels warm on the inside, not so much nauseous, just feeling slightly sick?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See your doctor: Based on this question as well as the other symptoms you describe in your other question, i would be suspicious of strep throat. A quick visit to you... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 26-year-old female asked:

I have a very stressful period in life, small flat, no place for baby, which is coming in few weeks, i'mafraid how can stress&worrying harm baby?33weeks

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Take a deep breath: It is normal to be anxious/worried/excited before the arrival of a new baby. Take some slow deep breaths to help relax, but worrying won't hurt your ... Read More

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5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Pamela Pappas agrees1 doctor agrees

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A 34-year-old female asked:

My 9mo old son is on amoxicillin. he is very congested and has a small weezing since yesterday. he also teething.

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See below: Not sure what your question is. There are a variety of reasons your child could be on antibiotics. If you are having further concerns about his symp... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 24-year-old male asked:

M/24y/93kg, fasting bsl is 136mg/dl, dr. adviced me not to eat sugar, do exercise, which is better cycling, walking or running or any other, please guide.

Pediatrics 28 years experience

All effective: Doesn't matter what type of exercise you do, as long as you are doing some kind of exercise. Ideally, it should be strenuous enough that you can't ca... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 43-year-old male asked:

Best diet for lean girl aged 11 years?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Well balanced diet: Typically no need for a specific diet for a healthy pre teen child. If there are specific concerns, those would be best addressed with her physician,... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 31-year-old member asked:

My wife has female problems. what should we tell our teens?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

The truth: You don't necessarily have to go into all the details, but trying to hide things from them, generally doesn't end well. An honest, upfront discussion... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson agrees1 doctor agrees

A 28-year-old female asked:

I had 2 courses of antibiotics to treat pneumonia 2 months ago. now i may have strep throat. is it safe to have antibiotics for another 5 days?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Yes: If you have a documented case of strep, then antibiotics are warranted. What you want to avoid is taking antibiotics for every runny nose.

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 48-year-old female asked:

How to prevent getting tired?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Nothing magic: Simple things like getting to bed earlier, good diet, exercise, and keeping electronics out of your room where you sleep.

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 22-year-old female asked:

I have had abdominal pains every few months for 4 years. they come and go and when they come they are painful. what is the problem?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See your doctor: Entire chapters of books are written about abdominal pain, so any answers here would be purely speculative. What you need is a thorough history, phy... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 34-year-old female asked:

My son is passing loose stool and its white in color he is on antibiotic what could be the problem?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Antibiotic: Antibiotics cause a disruption in the normal balance between viruses, bacteria, and yeast in the colon. Loose stools (and sometimes discolorations) a... Read More

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5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

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A 25-year-old female asked:

Do babies sleep better when it's hot or when it's cool ?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Either: Aim for a temperature that you are comfortable in. Avoid drafty areas.

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Donald Jacobson agrees1 doctor agrees

A 28-year-old female asked:

I have gotten a viral rash that is just now clearing...how would i help my skin clear up better?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Time: There are many different types of viral rashes, each with their own time frames for resolution. For the most part, there is nothing that will speed u... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 19-year-old female asked:

I have been vomiting so much that i just took 72 mg of zofran (ondansetron) at once. i am 103-106 pounds will i be ok?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Call poison control: That is a dose well above the recommended dosing levels. To be safe, i would recommend you contact your local poison control center, so they can bett... Read More

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5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 41-year-old female asked:

My 4 yr old had a fever crying that his belly is sore. what should i do for sore tummy?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See your doctor: There are many possibilities of a fever with abdominal pain. Seeing his physician so a full history, physical, and possibly testing will give an accu... Read More

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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Marina Armendariz agrees1 doctor agrees

A 44-year-old male asked:

I recently be diagnosed with a very low blood factor 8. i have been referred th a hematologist, but that takes time. what does a low factor 8 mean?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Hemophilia A: This is "classic hemophilia" caused by low levels of factor 8 which is a protein responsible for clotting of blood. There are many different levels o... Read More

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5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 48-year-old member asked:

Can a patent ductus arteriosus cause heart murmur?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Yes: A PDA can sometimes present with a murmur, but often does not have a murmur present.

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged

Dr. Luis Villaplana agrees1 doctor agrees

A 30-year-old member asked:

How should i treat a boil on my infant's bottom (20 months old)?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

To the doctor: In an infant that age i would recommend that they be seen by their physician. Depending on the size, these often need to be drained and often culture... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson agrees1 doctor agrees

A 30-year-old member asked:

Can the amoxycillin antibiotic treat the flu?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

No: Amoxil (amoxicillin) is an antibiotic that is only effective at treating bacterial infections. Influenza is a virus and no antibiotic will treat viru... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Alan Ali and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A male asked:

Can a teenager drink syntha 6?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Not recommended: No real need for that much supplemental protein in a normal health teenager. Other concern is that being a supplement, you do not know what you are g... Read More

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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 34-year-old member asked:

Can anyone tell me about goldenhar syndrome characteristics?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Facial anomolies: Incomplete development of the ear, nose, mandible, soft palate and/or lip. Usually these defects are only on one side of the body.

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Villaplana and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 38-year-old member asked:

I am looking for the best pediatric opthamologist in texas; any suggestions?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

BIG state: Big state with lost of good physicians. Best advice would be to first check with your pediatrician - they will have relationships with the local spec... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Barbara Stark Baxter and another doctor agree2 doctors agree

A 36-year-old member asked:

What is the 'apgar' score of a person? how do i find mine?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Newborn well being: The apgar score was devised by dr. Virginia apgar to asses the well being of newborns. It is an acronym for (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, r... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. James Ferguson and 2 doctors agree3 doctors agree

A 43-year-old member asked:

Should i continue using ear drops until the bottle is empty?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Depends on direction: There should be directions printed on the bottle as to how long to use them. For example, use for 10 days, or until bottle gone. If you are unsure, ... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Luis Villaplana agrees1 doctor agrees

A 34-year-old member asked:

What innovations arose from virginia apgar's invention?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Newborn well being: The apgar score (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration) is a simple measure to quickly asses the health of a newborn just after delivery. ... Read More

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5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 32-year-old member asked:

Tomorow u think i will hit pubertal growth spurt this year?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

???: Need to see your physician for a full physical, and then they can give you a better estimation of when you might hit your growth spurt.

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Vered Lewy-Weiss agrees1 doctor agrees

A 47-year-old member asked:

What's the best method of getting children into a good early bedtime routine?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Routine: Your answer is in your question. Children respond best for bedtimes when their routines are predictable. It takes time, but it will work.

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Gutti Rao agrees1 doctor agrees

A 18-year-old female asked:

1 and a half kidneys i have problems such as, fainting, unbearable sharp pain in kidneys, it hurts to pee at times. i blame it on stress but could there be something else wrong? im 18 & very healthy

Pediatrics 28 years experience

See your doctor: I would be hard pressed to blame all those symptoms on stress. At the minimum you need a urine sample to be evaluated especially looking for a uti.

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5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A 45-year-old member asked:

Can someone die from a diphenhydramine overdose?

Pediatrics 28 years experience

Potentially yes: If you or someone else has taken too much of benadryl, (diphenhydramine) or any other substance, call the national poison control center at 1-800-222-... Read More

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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowler and another doctor agree2 doctors agree