YANMD filter. I have had an earache for...a long time. I need a super low cost ENT type visit in the miami/fort lauderdale area. [more inside]
posted by bilabial on Nov 17, 2009 - 19 answers

After a week of what was diagnosed as some form of Viral Syndrome Meningitis, I just found a big target-shaped rash on the back of my leg. Looks just like the pictures. This started on Sunday of Labor Day weekend after camping. Now that I'm pretty sure it's Lyme Disease what should I ask for and do first? I'm about 10 days into the infection. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 16, 2009 - 6 answers

Recommend an excellent, comprehensive book on the history of antibiotics? [more inside]
posted by inoculatedcities on Aug 21, 2009 - 6 answers

I know you are not a vet. But is there any way to cure a dog's ear infections without antibiotics and a trip to the vet? [more inside]
posted by miss lynnster on Aug 9, 2009 - 39 answers

Help! I'm in Japan, and I have a painful boil on my back from several weeks of carrying around a heavy backpack. I used this and Neosporin a few years ago in a similar situation in the US, but I don't know what to look for at a drugstore here. Any ideas? (I can speak only a tiny bit of Japanese, but I can read Katakana, in case that might help)
posted by anonymous on Jun 30, 2009 - 6 answers

What are the common form of Computer Virus spread these days? I remeber back in the day it was all about Word macros, then Outlook attachmets auto-running, but therse days is it all Internet Browser Exploits? How does your computer get infected these days? Can you get a virus just by visiting a webpage (but not running any aps / agreeing to intall anything)? [more inside]
posted by mary8nne on Jun 22, 2009 - 13 answers

Starch is food. So, why do we put cornstarch on skin to prevent, and dry up, topical skin infections, like diaper rash? I know from experience that it works. Why can't the infection use the starch as a food source?
posted by Foam Pants on May 15, 2009 - 5 answers

My hairdresser just learned that she has HIV. Should we do anything differently? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 8, 2009 - 10 answers

Why am I occasionally getting coughing/breathing problems still when swimming after a 2 week course of antibiotics for a chest infection 2 months ago? ( I am very fit). [more inside]
posted by lndl on Apr 8, 2009 - 24 answers

Cat bite that broke the skin: Should I worry yet? [more inside]
posted by trillian on Apr 6, 2009 - 19 answers

Urinary tract infection? (potential TMI filter) [more inside]
posted by faeuboulanger on Mar 11, 2009 - 18 answers

I was diagnosed with Oral Thrush and am being treated with Diflucan. How long before I'm back to 100% normal? [more inside]
posted by Unicorn on the cob on Feb 16, 2009 - 21 answers

What do you think the probability of catching a blood borne disease would be from swatting a mosquito filled with fresh human blood of unknown origin? Another way of stating the same question: Would the risk associated with driving to the pathology centre to get tests exceed the risk of infection?
posted by singingfish on Jan 11, 2009 - 13 answers

The pediatrician says my two-week-old baby has a potential eye infection-- her left eye isn't draining properly yet. The pediatrician prescribed erythromycin ointment. Coincidentally, about three weeks ago, our cat was prescribed erythromycin for her eye infection, which is now long cleared. I still have about four-fifths of a tube. Is there any reason that I shouldn't use the cat's ointment on the baby? It seems like a waste to open another tube of the stuff.
posted by Mayor Curley on Dec 2, 2008 - 34 answers

Do I have an inner-ear infection, or something else? [more inside]
posted by Effigy2000 on Nov 12, 2008 - 5 answers

The doctor says I have thrush. Five pessaries or so later, it hasn't gone away. What;s going on? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 20, 2008 - 9 answers

For an outer ear infection, how do I get the medication drops safely past the pus to the infected ear canal? [more inside]
posted by high0nfire on Oct 15, 2008 - 10 answers

green mucus during ovulation but pap smear comes out negative [more inside]
posted by marypj on Oct 9, 2008 - 5 answers

Manhattan dermatologist who can see me this week to handle an out of control icky infection (classic manicure-from-hell scenario)? The closer to Grand Central-ish, the better! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 28, 2008 - 4 answers

I was diagnosed today with oral thrush. How did I get it? Can I pass it orally? Other-than-orally? More inside. [more inside]
posted by crunch buttsteak on Aug 7, 2008 - 11 answers

Could this scab be infected? [more inside]
posted by lunasol on Jul 10, 2008 - 17 answers

Six months ago I got the cartilage of my ear pierced, about half an inch down from the top. Ever since, I’ve had a small red bump on the exit hole of the piercing. It varies in size almost daily, is somewhat tender-feeling, and produces some white crud overnight. I soak it regularly but it doesn’t seem to help. Please help me de-bumpify myself! [more inside]
posted by crosbyh on Apr 14, 2008 - 17 answers

My kitten, after being neutered, developed an upper respiratory infection, I took him to the vet, and it turned out he had feline herpes. The feline herpes and human herpes virus strains are different and cats cannot transmit this to humans and vice versa--at least according to all the reading and research I have done. And yet, for the last two weeks when my cat was sick, I have had a nasty case of shingles (yes, I was diagnosed, and it is definitely shingles). So, I'm asking, could these illnesses be related in some way, or is this completely a huge coincidence? [more inside]
posted by misha on Mar 28, 2008 - 8 answers

Sudden eye problem filter: Of course YNMD, and if the problem exacerbates, I'll be off to the Urgent Care Center. But a funny thing happened on my way to Dreamland... [more inside]
posted by Oriole Adams on Mar 24, 2008 - 5 answers

My first-grader has pain in his right ear. It was keeping him up last night but the pain went away after a dosage of Tylenol. For the past week he's had a cold but the ear pain began just last night. Does anyone have advice for how to proceed with this thing I suspect is an ear infection? Our clinic is closed until Monday, and that is also the earliest I could get him to his chiropractor (he sees one since he painfully overextended his back on a waterslide last summer--but I hear chiropractors can help with ear infections too).
posted by mamaraks on Jan 26, 2008 - 14 answers

Puppy has developed bald patches on head and face. Antibiotics prescribed by vet a month ago haven't helped. Should the puppy's owner have a very expensive biopsy done, or just leave it alone and hope it goes away? [more inside]
posted by Ruby Doomsday on Jan 16, 2008 - 19 answers

Does my cat have a chronic respiratory infection, or is it possible she just naturally has poor breathing passages? Ever since my partner and I adopted her and her sister in August she has had periodic coughing and hacking fits that have been relatively unaffected by three separate rounds of antibiotics. Now I wonder if maybe she just has the equivalent of a deviated septum, or whether it's time for hospitalization. [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Dec 13, 2007 - 13 answers

how to make my eyes bigger (preferably without plastic surgery, and excluding the use of makeup)? [more inside]
posted by aielen on Nov 21, 2007 - 8 answers

I have some sort of bump on my buttock. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 6, 2007 - 12 answers

Medical School Filter: Infectious Disease Department on the West Coast. Please recommend a good university for an overseas visiting professional. [more inside]
posted by geekyguy on Aug 21, 2007 - 9 answers

My SO is 30 weeks pregnant and all is going well apart from one constant annoyance of she continually feels that need to wee. [more inside]
posted by rus on Jun 13, 2007 - 19 answers

Are there any known systemic effects of low-grade root canal infection after treatment? [more inside]
posted by greatgefilte on Jun 4, 2007 - 5 answers

How do women who mud wrestle or take regular mud baths (esp. naked, say at a spa) avoid getting mud in their, er, orifices—or do they avoid it? [more inside]
posted by limeonaire on May 24, 2007 - 26 answers

Tooth question: How do you tell a damaged root from a sinus infection? Also, I just had my wisdom teeth out. [more inside]
posted by lunasol on May 19, 2007 - 19 answers

I've had a stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, and consequent sore throat -- all due, I think to an allergy. It's taking several days to clear up, and clearing up very slowly. Should I be seeing a doctor about this? [more inside]
posted by Malad on Apr 10, 2007 - 16 answers

MononucleosisFilter: I just got diagnosed with mono. My doctor says I will be pretty much incapacitated for the next three weeks or so. I have a few questions that the doc didn't really satisfy, and I thought I'd see if some Mefites could share their experience... [more inside]
posted by buriednexttoyou on Apr 5, 2007 - 55 answers

Should I still consider myself as having a yeast infection? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 20, 2007 - 13 answers

My doc thinks I may have a viral inner ear infection. He has prescribed prednisone. How does this help? [more inside]
posted by blue_wardrobe on Feb 14, 2007 - 18 answers

My gums hurt. A lot. What can I do? [more inside]
posted by Deathalicious on Feb 8, 2007 - 17 answers

Bath bubbles change in the presence of a yeast infection. Why? [more inside]
posted by kmennie on Feb 7, 2007 - 7 answers

Post-surgery, should I be more worried about the frequency of fevers or how high they go? [more inside]
posted by bitter-girl.com on Jan 18, 2007 - 12 answers

My PC is literally trying to tell me something [more inside]
posted by hoppytoad on Dec 15, 2006 - 13 answers

Cat health filter: strategies for coping with a cat with a recurring herpes based eye infection? [more inside]
posted by queue_strategy on Oct 29, 2006 - 4 answers

Topical antibiotics for sinus/throat infections? [more inside]
posted by treepour on Sep 20, 2006 - 10 answers

Make the hurting stop! I got my ears pierced with stainless steel balls last Saturday, one in each lobe and two in the cartilage of my right ear. All was well until Monday, when an infection started in my cartilage. How do I get rid of it? Grossish details inside! [more inside]
posted by schroedinger on Sep 20, 2006 - 22 answers

Yeast? Bacterial vaginosis? Something else? It's getting chronic and I'm starting to despair. For details about girly parts, there's [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 18, 2006 - 23 answers

Old ear piercing always gets infected. How to treat it? [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Aug 27, 2006 - 9 answers

I got my wife a nose piercing for her birthday. She'd really wanted it for a long time, and I became a one-cooler husband. Trouble now, is that she's developed an infection right next to the piercing – a fairly visible dark bulbous spot. She's tried a few things including Tea Tree oil, which does help reduce, but not eliminate the infection. This has now been going on for about a month and she's getting really upset that it won't go away (I can't blame her). I don't want her to regret getting the piercing because I think it's a really cool thing that she's done (a real stretch for her), and pretty sexy too. Any suggestions on getting rid of this infection?
posted by iTristan on Aug 27, 2006 - 28 answers

How likely was it that I had a long term systemic infection? What can I do to make sure it doesn't return? [more inside]
posted by Kickstart70 on Aug 7, 2006 - 10 answers

We went swimming two days ago. My boyfriend still has water in his ear, and the Swim-EAR (95% isopropyl alcohol, 5% glycerin) we got at the drug store hasn't helped. Is this normal? And what can he do to make his ear feel better? [more inside]
posted by bookish on Jul 31, 2006 - 28 answers