Nasal congestion, whether from the common cold or flu, or chronic allergies, can be the most annoying symptom for many people. A runny nose is usually treated with over the counter nasal sprays such as oxymetazoline (Afrin), which works well for up to half a day; this medicine is good for 3-5 days maximum.… Read the rest
Category Archives: Illness
Infant Fever: Which Medicine Works Best?
A child’s fever is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits. There are only a couple of medicines that are safe for infants; ibuprofen (aka Motrin) and acetaminophen (aka Tylenol, paracetamol). Which one works best?
Recent studies show that ibuprofen 10mg/kg is slightly better than acetaminophen 10mg/kg in terms of more rapid effectiveness, as well as lasting a bit longer (over 6 hours).… Read the rest
Alcoholism: Do You Have It?
My father was a lively, warm hearted man. He was also an alcoholic, and he died far too early of advanced alcoholic cirrhosis (complete liver collapse). I see alcoholism as a big issue not only in my life but also, unfortunately, for a lot of expats and their families.… Read the rest
Jet Lag: What Works? What Doesn't?
Everyone is familiar with the dreaded jet lag, that groggy feeling you can get for days after a long flight as your body adjusts to its new time zone. And everyone also has their own home remedies. But which remedies really work?… Read the rest
Gastroenteritis — new slideshow
The summer always brings a lot of stomach infections, but fortunately there are a lot of easy ways to treat it — without a visit to the doctor. Below is a slide show on gastroenteritis: the symptoms, treatment, and prevention. It is the compliment slide show to my Illness article on gastro.… Read the rest
Hayfever — new slideshow
Hayfever is the common term for allergic rhinitis. I see this in my clinic all spring, and at other times of year as well. There are a lot of over the counter medicines you can use for this, but in late April with all the Beijing trees shedding like a snowstorm, make sure you have the medicines at home or in your travel kit!… Read the rest