Live virus vaccines, killed (inactivated) vaccines, toxoid vaccines and biosynthetic vaccines are currently available and Dr. Deepa Sharma, Family Medicine Physician with Baptist Health Primary Care, describes each one. The doctor also talks about Hepatitis B vaccines. She says it’s really important because Hepatitis B is a virus that can affect the liver and it…...

There are several reasons to get vaccinated such as: less risk for serious diseases, less chance of passing on a serious disease to relatives and some protection for those who can’t get vaccinated, among others. Dr. Deepa Sharma, Family Medicine Physician with Baptist Health Primary Care, says diseases like diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pneumonia…...

Dr. Fernando Mendoza, Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Baptist Children's Hospital, explains dry drowning is when the child or anybody has inhaled water through their trachea. He also says those symptoms manifest few hours later, usually within minutes to hours. He recommends parents to take their children to ER if they suspect the…...

E. Coli, Mononucleosis, Influenza, Meningitis, Pneumonia and Shingles (herpes zoster) are the most common infectious diseases. Regarding E. Coli, Dr. Stacey Baker, Infectious Disease Physician with Baptist Health South Florida, explains people may get it from contaminated food products. Mononucleosis is also called the kissing disease because it can be easily passed through oral secretions…...

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, and swelling in the mouth or throat are signs of when the flu might be an emergency. Dr. Jose Llach, Medical Director of Free Standing Emergency Department with Baptist Health South Florida, says fever is the main symptom.…...

Physicians need an evaluation to determine if something is viral or bacterial, explains Stacey Baker, Infectious Disease Physician with Baptist Health South Florida. Blood or urine tests can help make that difference. The expert affirms a common cold is caused by a variety of viruses and it’s considered an infectious disease. The doctor advises checking…...

Antibiotics do not work for viral infections. A lot of people take antibiotics to treat cough or congestion, but frequently these symptoms are caused by viruses and antibiotics are not useful in those cases, says Stacey Baker, Infectious Disease Physician with Baptist Health South Florida. The expert says when people are hospitalized, they are at…...

The Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine (HIB) protects people against haemophilus influenzae type b infections. It’s a bacterial infection that leads to either ear infection, pneumonia and meningitis. Dr. Scarlet Constant, Pediatrician with Baptist Health South Florida, explains what meningitis is and its symptoms and complications...