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3 Av 5764 - July 21, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Home and Family


Your Medical Questions Answered!
by Joseph B. Leibman, MD

Diplomate, Board Certification of Emergency Medicine

Summer is upon us, and I want to add a piece of information that we haven't spoken about in the past.

Many people are taking medications that may make their skin more sensitive to the sun and make them burn easier. These medications include psoriasis and acne medications, such as coal tar and retinoids. Antibiotics that can cause a problem are quinolones, often given for urinary tract infections, and tetracyclines, often given for pneumonia. Sulfa and penicillin can also do this, especially in allergic patients. NSAIDS -- pain relievers currently available without prescription such as Advil and narocin -- can cause this as well. If you have atrial fibrillation and take procor (amiodorone), it can cause this too.

Many psychiatric medications, such as phenergan -- often also used for allergy and vomiting -- and thiazides -- used for blood pressure lowering -- can also cause this problem. Remember elderly people do not feel the heat as well, and light skinned folks must be careful about skin cancer. See your dermatologist to evaluate dark spots.

Ear infections are not as common as we once thought and they are most often viral. Most physicians use these as an excuse to give antibiotics, but do not actually check the ear by blowing air in it with an insufflator, which is the best way to make the diagnosis. Augmentin is almost never needed for an acute infection, and the overuse of antibiotics has led to resistant bacteria, meaning that kids who really do have this bacteria must receive stronger medications to fight it. Adults in contact with kids in day care and play groups who have been given too much antibiotics may need stronger antibiotics too.

Under age two, one should treat with antibiotics, but over two years old -- watchful waiting is what is done in most European countries. At risk for ear infections are children who are not nursed, bottle fed by propping up the bottle, the use of pacifiers and smoking nearby. Write me in care of the Yated.

A message from GlaxoSmithKline, sponsor of this column. Augmentin is used with cases that fail to respond to other antibiotics and in bites from various animals. Diabetics with foot problems also need the strength of Augmentin. The dosage is very convenient and the effectiveness unquestioned.

 

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