Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
NURSING MOTHERS: Trimethoprim is secreted into
breast milk in high
concentrations. Use of trimethoprim by mothers who are breast-feeding should be
avoided.
SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects associated with
trimethoprim are gastrointestinal. They include loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal taste, and swelling of the tongue.
Taking trimethoprim with food may reduce some of these side effects.
Trimethoprim may cause anemia due to a deficiency of folic acid. The anemia
usually is mild and resolves when the trimethoprim is stopped. Patients who are
folate-deficient, such as malnourished, alcoholic, geriatric, or pregnant
patients, may be at greater risk for developing anemia with trimethoprim.
Warning signs of anemia include white or bluish fingernails and unusual
tiredness and weakness. Prolonged therapy can result in
low platelet counts, low
white blood cell counts, and other toxic effects on the blood cells. The most
common side effects related to the skin are rash and itching. Rarely, the rash
can progress to peeling or blistering. Some patients have
photosensitivity
reactions, that is, they develop skin rashes on parts of their body that are
exposed to the sun.
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, and/or urethra. Not
everyone with a UTI has symptoms. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to
urinate and a painful, burning when urinating.
Middle ear infection or inflammation (otitis media) is inflammation fo the middle ear. There are two types of otitis media, acute and chronic. Acute otitis media is generally short in duration, and chronic otitis media generally lasts several weeks. Seventy-five percent of children in the U.S. suffer from otitis media at some point. Treatment depends upon the type (chronic or acute).
Travelers should prepare for their trip by visiting their physician to get the proper vaccinations and obtain the necessary medication if they have a medical condition or chronic disease. Diseases that travelers may pick up from contaminated water or food, insect or animal bites, or from other people include malaria, meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, and cholera.
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