Health Infections Advice Information

Sep. 07, 2010

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What Does H1N1 and the Flu Mean to You?

New Vaccines for Adolescents

Rx for Survival Campaign

West Nile Encephalitis

The Facts About Mono

Potential Piercing Problems: Know What to Avoid and What's Safe

Chickenpox is Entirely Preventable

I’m 15 and I have found that my nose is not straight with the rest of my face. It has given me trouble breathing through one side of my nose and I constantly get headaches. Could it be a deviated septum? What is that?

My doctor told me I had bacterial vaginosis. I took the entire dosage of medication. On the last day of my medication, I had sex and it hurt. It’s been a week and I’m still sore. I thought that I might have a yeast infection and used Monistat, but it stung. I’ve heard you can have bacterial vaginosis for years. Is this true? Is there a way to get rid of it for good?

Is it normal when your outer layer of your vaginal part is turning red and starts to shed? Or is it just a yeast infection?

I recently watched a commercial on TV about meningitis. It was said that meningitis can be spread by sharing drinks. I'm an athlete and sometimes share drinks with my teammates. When I play any sports or even when I wear something that traps heat, I sweat a lot. Also, I have trouble waking up because it feels like I need to go back to sleep. When I do wake up, I feel sleepy during the day. Are these any signs that can be a serious disease or viruses? Should I go tell my doctor?

Do vaginal infections effect sex hormones if you get them or if a vaginal infection is left untreated?

The skin on my hands often blisters mostly at the tip of my fingers. It's never painful it's just annoying. What could this be caused by, and what is a good treatment?

I have a lump in the front of my neck just above the Adams apple, it is the size of a pea and it is very sore to touch. Cancer runs in my family. If it’s not cancer what could it be?

I'm 16 years old and am not sexually active. A few months ago, the gynecologist said I had a yeast infection. It didn't go away with creams or oral medication. I'm starting to develop more symptoms. I am experiencing pain, a frequent need to urinate and after I do, I feel like I still have to go, and sporadic itching. There is also a "popping" sound in my vagina almost feeling like air is in there. I've been recently diagnosed with Celiac disease. Could these be related? What could be causing this?

I am a 13-year-old girl and I get red spots along my mid section of my body. They don't itch. They actually hurt when I touch them. I have gotten them before, but I thought it was just a reaction to my period. Then, I got them again without getting my period. Is this an allergy?

I have shingles but my boyfriend has never had chickenpox. We're in our teens and I'm worried about him getting chickenpox because we're always in contact. What should we do?

I have been diagnosed by my GYN with dysplasia. Is it curable and will I have it for the rest of my life? I am a 15-year-old female.

I have a small hard bump on my neck. It is just above my Adam’s apple and on the left side. It moves when touched. Do you think it could be cancer?

I am a 14 year old female. Should I get the vaccine for cervical cancer? Do I need to worry about that now?

I'm a 15-year-old female and have found little sores around my genital area. I am not sexually active. I had skin cancer when I was younger. What could these be?

I’m a 13-year-old girl and I have yellow, blotchy spots all over my breasts. Is this normal? If not, what should I do about it?

Last year I played baseball and my glove would get sweaty on the inside. That year I got an annoying wart. It’s gone now, as is my season, and I was wondering if warts are caused by heavy sweat?

I have a lump on the left of my jaw. It is on the outside of the jaw not toward the inside. When I mess with it, it seems to get bigger and becomes tender. You cannot feel it through the inside of my cheek unless you push it up from the outside. You can feel it very well from the outside. I have chewed tobacco for a couple of years. Should I be worried?

Can exercise help your body fight off a cold or flu?

What are the dangers of getting my clitoris pierced?

I have a burning sensation when I have to urinate and I also bleed a little. I also noticed that when I feel like I have to urinate only a couple of drops come out. What can it be?

I have been diagnosed with HPV and cervical dysplasia. Can my boyfriend can get dysplasia or HPV?

I'm a 13-year-old boy. I’ve have been going to the bathroom a lot in my bed lately. What’s causing this?

I'm a 13-year-old female and have found small "pimples" around the inner lip of my vagina. When popped they produce a white discharge. Is this normal?

I am a 15 year old boy, and have been experiencing lower back pains for four days. My collarbone, chest and sides have been hurting also. Today my mother took me to urgent care and the doctor took a sample of my urine and said that there was blood in it. After having an x-ray, the doctor said I may have kidney stones. What can I do to prevent lower back pain and are the other pains related to the kidney stones?

I’m a guy who had one outbreak of herpes. Is my partner only at risk of contracting it when I have the symptoms, or am I always contagious?

Is it possible to become over-hydrated? I'm having a pain in my kidneys and I think I might have had too much water. When is too much water dangerous?

I've had a swollen gland on only one side of my neck for about a year. When I get a cold or strep throat it gets bigger and sore, but it never goes back to normal. It feels as big as a large marble. Is this an indication of something serious or is it possible to just have a large gland?

I am thinking about getting my nose pierced. The normal piercing through the nasal hole. I am scared of getting it done. How much will it hurt, will it bleed, can it paralyze me and what is the procedure? Do they use a needle or a piercing gun?

I am a 16-year-old female. I am not sexually active. I found a lump on the inner lip of my vagina. It hurts to touch and it’s skin color. What could this be? An ingrown hair? I’m scared.

I'm a 16-year-old girl. When I had a bowel movement, only yellow mucus came out. It looked like I blew my nose on the toilet paper. What could it be?

What is bacterial vaginitis? What are the symptoms? How can it be cured? Can it go away on its own without seeking medical attention? How long does it usually last? Is it very harmful? Can it cause problems in the future?

If you have had the flu already, can you get it again (in the same flu season)?

I am 17 years old and I have had pneumonia for a week. How long will it last? I am on cefuroxime, 50 mg of prednisone and I just finished taking the Z-pak for 5 days. I have to take pulmicort and xopenex with the breathing machine. I don’t feel I am getting better and my lower back by my lungs still hurt. I am still coughing and my peak flow is the same at 300.

Is it possible to become pregnant after anal sex? Is there any way I can prevent this? I'm in a relationship I know is monogamous and don't have to worry about disease and do not need a condom.

I had chicken pox when I was little. When I was 12 years old, I got the shingles. It lasted for about a week. I am now 16 and I think I have the shingles again. Can you get them again? Will it be worse now because I am older?

What causes a kidney stone in a teenager?

About five years ago, I noticed a lot of tiny bumps on my penis. When squeezed, they produce little white bits. In the last year, these spots have become very itchy and I have a fishy smell around my foreskin. I have never had sex, nor have I performed any sexual acts with anyone (which may sound a little sad for my age). If it’s not an STD, what could it be? I have also noticed tiny fungal spots around the head of my penis.

I had my nose pierced before, but had to remove the stud because of school and the piercing closed. I would like to get it pierced again when I leave school. Is it possible to get it pierced in the same place or would it be safer to get it pierced on the other side?

Is a stye caused by a contact?

I have pain in my back, stomach, neck and chest. I have a low grade temp off and on. My left arm also gets stiff and is painful to move. I am very tired and feel very weak. What could be wrong?

My ex-boyfriend has been abusive to me. He has shoved objects inside down there. I got BV for about the 10th time in two years. I told my doctor about my ex and after an examination, she said my cervix looked irritated. What exactly did she mean by that? Can she tell that my ex boyfriend has hurt me by examining me?

My ears were pierced eight weeks ago. Now I have bumps on the back of my ear. What are they and when will they go away?

I am 19 and have been sexually active since I was 17. I had a pelvic exam and ever since I have had bleeding during/after intercourse. Not all the time, but the majority of the time. Why is this happening and what I should do?

I have about 5 or 6 red spots on my arm around the upper forearm (inside) to the lower bicep. They are slightly raised from the rest of my skin and appear as scar like or leathery. They also range in size from a lead tip pencil to the size of a pencil eraser and are red in color. I am not sure what these are and have just noticed them recently. Any good direction as to what they are and how to clear them would be helpful.

What causes a cold sore, and what's the FASTEST way to get rid of it?

I’m 16 years old and I play the violin. Like everyone else who plays the violin, I have a mark on my neck from the violin. Lately this mark has been growing and is now a huge soft lump. My parents and I are pretty sure it is infected, and I have a doctor’s appointment in a few weeks. Is there any medicine to keep down the swelling for the time before the appointment so it’s not that noticeable?

I want to get a surface piercing at the nape of my neck. I know there's a risk of the bar bell migrating out of the skin, but this can be avoided with a longer bar bell going deeper into the tissue. Is this type of piercing safe?

I’ve had two cases of tonsillitis and now it feels like it’s coming back. I’m afraid to have my tonsils taken out because I heard you throw up blood. Is this true? Why does it keep coming back?

Is it true that you have a higher chance of getting asthma if you have previously had a respiratory infection (such as pneumonia or bronchitis)? What kind of tests do they do to test you for asthma?

Every time I urinate it stings in the middle on the inside of my penis. I am 14 and a virgin. What is wrong?

What is HPV?

I've had mono for a week now and I'm already feeling better. I've heard that mono stays in your system forever. My boyfriend had it three years ago, could he have given it to me? And if so, is it possible for me to give it to him AGAIN?

My right ear hurts when I try to clean with cotton swabs after a shower. It also has a slight odor. What could it be?

About once a month I get a sty in the inside corner of my right eye. I don't pick at or rub my eyes, and I don't share makeup with anyone. I wear contacts but I always clean them according to directions from my eye doctor. Why is this happening?

How do you know if you have gingivitis and what can you do about it? My gums sometimes are swollen. Does it mean I have it?

Is it safe to carve initials in your leg using a knife or pen?

I'm a 14-year-old girl and I still wet the bed. I notice that when I do, an area on the left side hurts. It only lasts a couple of hours. What is it?

Every month around the time my period is coming I get these painful lumps around my vaginal area. When I started menstruating my mother said it was normal. Now they are filled with pus and blood. What could this be?

I went on vacation to Florida and came home with red bumps on the inside of my thighs. My family says they are red ant bites, but I am afraid they maybe something else. I also think my bites are infected. How can I be sure these are red ant bites and how can I treat them?

I’m 14 and have noticed white worm like things coming from my vagina. Is this normal?

I am 15 years old and would like to get my tongue pierced. Are there any medical reasons why I shouldn’t?

I am a 17-year-old male. I have a bump, a little larger then a pencil eraser, where my right leg meets the torso on the front of my body. It has grown over the last couple of years, and is hard, but not solid. What is it?

Why is it unsafe to take a yeast infection cream if you have lower back pain?

I'm really worried about terrorism in the U.S. Now I'm hearing about germ warfare. Is there any vaccine I can get so I won't get sick if something happens? Are we immunized against smallpox when we're kids?

I think I have impetigo on my vagina. I have it on my neck too. I don't want to go to the doctors. What should I do?

I want get my tongue pierced. If I decide later on that I don’t want it anymore and take it out, will the hole go away or will it be there forever?

I am 13 and used to be sexually active. I think I have a yeast infection, but I’m not sure. Is there anyway to find out without my parents knowing and without going to the doctor?

I have a condition called "trimethylaminuria." It is a syndrome in which I cannot effectively digest choline, something found in many products. I am 16 and have had the problem since I was 13. The symptoms include a fishy odor that may vary to a smoky, sewage or fecal smell depending on diet I guess. I cannot live through this, it has given me an anxiety toward social situations. I want to commit suicide to get the message across that this disease needs a cure.

I am a 15-year-old female and I have never had chickenpox, but I have had the vaccine. Can I still get chickenpox? Is this serious?

I am a female and my scalp is dry and itchy. When I itch it, it sometimes starts to bleed and scabs form. I use Head and Shoulders, and Neutrogena Prevention Spray products. I also put cortisone on my scalp. Nothing is helping. Do you have any suggestions?

Last night my friend and I went swimming at the lake. When I woke up this morning, I was covered in little red bumps. They itch worse than any bug bite I've ever had. My friend is covered with the same red bumps. Could some bug in the water cause this?

I’m 15 years old and both of my eyes, the whites, are yellow in color. Is there something I could do to make my eyes whiter? What do you think is wrong with my eyes?

I'm a 16-year-old female and I have bad acne. Recently I was prescribed a variety of medications, each came with a description, but I am worried about Sulfamethoxazole/TMP. In the description it said it was for the treatment of urinary and ear infections. Is this drug also used to treat acne?

I have been to the doctor three times for sinus infections in the last seven months. The doctor has only given me antibiotics and after I take them all I still have mild symptoms. Should I go see an ENT?

I sometimes have cloudy urine. Is this a bad sign?

In the senior year of high school, when should I get the meningococcal vaccine in order to be covered for the start of college? How long does it take before the vaccine is effective?

What is the best treatment for an ingrown toenail?

How do I take care of my new bellybutton piercing?

Sometimes I have shooting pains in my penis and anus. Is something wrong or is this normal?

Lately I have had this bad cough and my chest has this "heavy" and sore feeling. The other night, I coughed up a very small amount of red stuff mixed in with mucous. Is this blood? I'm afraid to tell my parents because we are poor and it’s expensive to go to the doctor.

I have pimples all over my buttocks and some on my leg. What does this mean?

I'm a 15-year-old female. I feel like I have to urinate frequently. Just 10 or 15 minutes after going to the bathroom I'll have to go again, but little urine is produced. I don't have any other symptoms, but I'm embarrassed to see my doctor about this. Could this be a urinary tract infection?

What is West Nile virus? Does everyone die if you catch it? I have a friend who has a weak immune system. How will it affect her?

When I was little, I had pinworms a few times. Sometimes they went away by themselves, and other times they needed medication. I think I have them again. I know they are a common problem, but why did I get them so often?

I’m going to go to an all girls boarding house in autumn, and I’ll have to share showers. Am I at risk of catching anything? What can I do avoid it?

I have a cold and have been coughing and blowing up mucus with blood in it for a few days. Should I be concerned and go to an ENT?

What are the symptoms of a yeast infection?

What can happen if you have sex with a yeast infection?

I just found out that I have a yeast infection (white discharge that smells bad and vaginal itching). I have had it for about a year. At first I thought it was normal because I just started my period. I used medicine for it, but didn't go to my doctor. It has been a couple of weeks and the symptoms are returning. I'm not sexually active. Is this just a bad yeast infection or something else?

I have been having this discharge for over four months but no signs of my period coming. What does this mean?

I am a hidrandenitis suppurativa sufferer. Can supply some information about the skin disorder so others can understand it more?

I'm 13 years old and sometimes I get a bump a little larger than the diameter of a pencil on my arm. It goes away within an hour. What is it, could it be a worm?

I am 14 and I have a leakage problem during the day – it’s not urine. What could be causing this? Do wet dreams occur during the day too?

I had a dry, itchy rash on my shoulders and elbows. The doctor gave me an ointment, but now I have white blotches on the areas. There is no pigmentation on the areas and it won’t tan. What is wrong with me?

Lately I have had pain in my lower abdomen when I urinate. My urine has a distinct odor and is cloudy. I also have an intense itch in my vagina that is unreachable. What do you think is wrong with me?

Are ear thermometers accurate? How do they work?

I am a 16-year-old female and have had a hard lump on my neck for about a year. It's somewhat larger than when I first found it. Is it possible it’s cancerous?

I have a hearing loss and it is in the same ear as last time. The doctors have no explanation so far. I am taking steroids and have been getting dizzy ever since I started taking them. What should I do?

For about a year, I have been holding in my urine. If I'm holding a lot in and I stand up, sit down, uncross my legs or cough, I leak. I go to the bathroom 10-16 times a day and usually don't go a lot each time. I leak a bit during the day, even if I'm not intentionally holding it in, and don't realize when it's happening. This is never a problem at night, I believe because I don't hold it in on purpose when I'm out. Could this be caused by my flat feet and large breasts? I've seen a doctor, and she's going to put me on Lorabid®. I don't know what to do.

I got pink eye two weeks ago for the first time. A couple days later, I got it again and a third time. It's always in my right eye on the right side. What could have caused this and how can I prevent it?

Can you die from pneumonia?

I’ve had a staph infection for the past two years. I’ve been to the doctor once and she prescribed antibiotic pills and cream for the sores on my bikini line and on the top of my pelvic area. The cysts went away at first, but now, they’re back and worse. My mom won't take me to the doctor again yet. Is there a home remedy or an over-the-counter drug?

I fell into a sewage river and had a cut on my leg. Is it possible that I got HIV?

I have bad breath. I don’t smoke. My tongue is always covered with a white coating. Can my dentist treat it or do I have to go to a clinic, which will charge me $500 for testing?

I’ve had a sinus infection for a few months. My doctor has been treating it with antibiotics. I’ve had diarrhea for three months and haven’t had a period for that long either. Do you have any ideas why this is happening?

I’m 16 years old and recently experienced extreme lower back pain. The doctor found blood in my urine but no sign of infection. An x-ray of my kidney showed nothing the next day but the pain was gone as well. If I had passed a kidney stone, what caused it?

I read about molluscum contagiosum, but I was unable to find the detailed treatment. What is the treatment of molluscum contagiosum?

I’m 14 and a virgin. Recently my penis started to bleed every month or so and it hurts. What could this be?

I wear contacts. Around two weeks ago, my eyes started hurting and getting red and blurred with the contacts. So, I put the contacts on a break. But, sometimes, I wake up after a nap and my eyes are red. The redness seems to come and go. What could this be?

I am a 15-year-old guy. I get big red pimples on my upper thighs and they’re very sore. I usually get them every year when the weather gets warmer, and I sweat more. I won’t take a shower in gym class because I don’t want everyone laughing at me. What's wrong?

My vagina seems redish/brown, is this a sign of yeast infection?

I've been having terrible stomach pains for about two weeks now. The pain is worse in the morning and then fades, but is still noticeable. It feels like I'm going to have diarrhea, but when I get into the bathroom, nothing happens, please tell me what is wrong?

I've had cat-scratch fever. And the glands under my arms swelled up, but antibiotics took care of it. The gland in my throat and ears became swollen about seven to eight months ago. I've tried all kinds of antibiotics, but nothing works. Any clues as what to do?

I am a 13-year-old girl and I still wet the bed. I don't know I have to go until it's too late. I haven't had my period yet. Any suggestions?

I play in my school band and there is one piccolo. For about 3 months I have shared this instrument with another girl. She recently got Mono. I've been scared that I could have it. The teacher sterilized the piccolo, but lately I've had two separate incidents of diarrhea and I constantly have bad stomachaches and cramps.

I use tampons when I have my period. How can I remove the tampon if I can’t find the string?

Can I get pregnant or get sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV, from performing oral sex?

After I finish urinating, my penis stings a little bit. Is this normal?

My period usually only lasts three or four days. This time my period was really heavy the first two days and really light the next four or five days. Also there has been kind of a white almost translucent discharge, it is kind of thick. What could it be?

I have this discharge from my vagina and it's white and thick. My vagina also burns. I'm scared to talk to my mom about it. What can I do?

I have these hard sores around my vagina. They come and go and are like open sores sometimes. What are they and what can I do to make them go away.

I have a very sore throat and at times I lose my voice. What is the problem? I have had this for three to four days so far and need some help on how to solve the problem. It hurts

I had mono a couple of years ago. I am now 17 and get extremely tired? Once you have mono can you get it again? Is it always in your system?

I have a yeast type vaginal infection. I think it was caused by the laundry detergent I used on my clothes. I've been using one of those yeast infection treatment creams for five days. Should it have cleared up by now? Do I need to go to the doctor?

I went on a trip to a marine lab in Florida with my High School marine biology class. I came home with what I thought was a bug bite about the size of a quarter, raised like a welt and very hard in the center. My doctor also thought it was a bug bite and thought it had to run its course. Now there are two and they have grown to bigger than the size of my fist. They are hard, painful to the touch and very hot. What could it be?

How long am I contagious after I get a cold?

Is there any way to prevent "swimmers' ear?"

At a camp physical, I found out I have a "trace" of protein in my urine. The rest of the urine test was normal. The doctor wants me to come back for another test. I am worried because I heard the phrase "kidney disease." What can cause protein in the urine?

Concerning chickenpox, is it possible to do a blood test to tell if I had it as a child?

What can I do about fire ant bites?

How can you tell if you have mono?

I'm 18 years old for the past week I have had really bad back pain that just will not go anyway. When I feel down my spinal cord I feel a lump that really hurts. I'm scared I have cancer and I don't want to go to the doctor.

I have a bump near my vagina, sometimes it's itchy. Sometimes this bump bleeds. I've never had sex before. What should I do?

I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. He told me he has chlamydia. What is it and what should I do?

My doctor told me I have bacterial vaginosis. I didn't even know it. Can my boyfriend catch it?

I have to urinate a lot and it sort of burns. My girlfriend says to drink cranberry juice. It hasn’t seemed to help.

I just had my annual PAP test. The doctor told me I had trichomonas and gave me an antibiotic called metronidazole (Flagyl®). He didn't explain it to me. Since I don't have any symptoms, should I take the medicine? What should I tell my boyfriend?

I am thinking about getting a tattoo. What are the medical dangers of a tattoo?

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