Infectious Diseases

A video on talking to parents about comprehensive respiratory viral panels

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-09-20T14:37:52-04:00September 29th, 2023|Choosing Wisely, Infectious Diseases|

Did you know that there are comprehensive respiratory viral panels that will test for dozens of viruses all at once? Did you know that these tests are very expensive, and that they rarely alter management? Did you know that Choosing Wisely recommends that we do not routinely obtain them for respiratory viral illnesses? Of course you did, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch this entertaining video that I made with Dr. Tanner Heckle, a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow from Cincinnati Children's which depicts a conversation between a provider and a parent of a child with a respiratory infection.

You don’t need to order comprehensive viral panels for most patients

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-09-20T14:08:23-04:00September 27th, 2023|Choosing Wisely, Infectious Diseases|

Did you know that there are lab panels that can test for more than a dozen viruses on a single swab, but that these panels are very expensive and don't actually change the clinical trajectory of our patients all that often?

A video that teaches you how to talk about why we don’t need chest X-Rays in respiratory illnesses

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-08-27T10:18:24-04:00September 1st, 2023|Choosing Wisely, Infectious Diseases, Radiology|

Did you know that chest X-Rays are not recommended for most children with respiratory problems such as bronchiolitis, asthma exacerbations, croup, or first-time wheezing. Choosing Wisely recommends that doctors and all medical providers have detailed conversations with patients and their families about why X-Rays are unlikely to give new information or provide any additional reassurance. They also expose young children to unnecessary radiation. This video features Dr. Vincent Alexander who conducts a simulated discussion with a parent of a child with a respiratory illness.

You don’t need X-Rays in a child with bronchiolitis, croup, asthma, or first time wheezing

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-10-11T14:10:39-04:00August 30th, 2023|Choosing Wisely, Infectious Diseases, Pulmonology, Radiology|

This is a blog post and a podcast episode designed to disseminate the important work of Choosing Wisely, an initiative of the the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, the goal of which is the spark conversations between clinicians and patients about what tests, treatments, [...]

An epiglottitis podcast

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-04-12T11:21:18-04:00April 12th, 2023|Infectious Diseases, Otolaryngology, Podcasts|

The epiglottis is the toilet seat of the airway. That’s a useful function. But what if becomes so swollen and inflamed that it leads to airway obstruction and respiratory failure. That’s bad. That’s also what epiglottitis is. You can also call it supraglottitis. Either way you need to recognize this potentially life threatening malady and secure a definitive airway in the sickest patients ASAP.

Briefs: It’s neither a ring nor a worm… Discuss

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-03-15T10:47:12-04:00March 16th, 2023|Briefs, Dermatology, Infectious Diseases|

Dude - It's ringworm! So common, yet easily missed. Do yourself a favor and read this post, then look at a bunch of images so you can nail the diagnosis the net time you see it.

A brief podcast about norovirus

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-02-28T14:25:45-05:00February 28th, 2023|Briefs, Infectious Diseases, Podcasts|

Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide and is also a major cause of food borne illness. It spreads rapidly and causes vomiting and diarrhea that lead to many ED visits. Hopefully this brief episode will enrich the discussions that you have with patients and their families when making the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis.

Fast Facts: Staph Scalded Skin Syndrome

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-02-16T10:35:50-05:00February 16th, 2023|Fast Facts, Infectious Diseases|

SSSS is seen in infants and children and is secondary to exfoliate toxin strains of Staph aureus. Learn about the diagnosis and treatment in this brief review.

Infected kidney stones in children and adolescents

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2023-01-03T09:54:49-05:00January 3rd, 2023|Fast Facts, Infectious Diseases, Urology|

Infected stones are urologic emergencies and need prompt antibiotic therapy and decompression by Urology.

A bronchiolitis podcast resource you can share with patients and families

By Brad Sobolewski, MD, MEd|2022-11-11T15:00:21-05:00November 11th, 2022|Infectious Diseases, PEMBlog Updates, Podcasts|

Here is a podcast episode that I recorded for Cincinnati Children's show "Young & Healthy" entitled "Parents, We Need Your Attention: Babies and Kids are Sick, Children’s Hospitals are Full, Wait Times are Long." It addresses why our EDs, Urgent Cares, and Hospitals are so busy, and offers caregiver focused advice on Bronchiolitis management.