John Roberts

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for about eight million doctor visits each year in the United States. These infections are much more common in adults, particularly in women. Children account for one to two percent of all UTIs, but their infections are often more serious. About 40 percent of women and 12 percent of men…

We’re in the middle of swim season and I’ve been seeing patients complaining of “swimmer’s ear.” Doctors tend to see more of this malady in hot, humid weather, but it can also be the result of other conditions as well. The medical term for swimmer’s ear is otitis externa, indicating inflammation of the ear canal…

Since our temperatures are predicted to be near 100 early this week, it’s time to start thinking about the dog days of summer. Although I don’t see a significant number of heat-related emergencies in my office, many patients suffering from heat illness will start filling the beds in emergency departments. Heat illness accounts for tens…

Warmer weather means we have to start thinking about ticks and Lyme Disease. Most people are aware of the association between tick bites and Lyme disease, but few know exactly what Lyme disease is or what causes it. The number of cases in Indiana has varied over the years, but generally has increased since around…

Barbecue season is in full swing and it’s a good time to review food safety. Foodborne illness, commonly referred to as “food poisoning,” is something that almost all of us have experienced at some point in our lives. Foodborne illness is defined as more than two people having a similar illness with evidence of food…

Last week I went over some sun and water safety topics. This week I want to write about wheeled conveyances that appear in the spring and summer months. It’s great to see kids and adults out on their bicycles now that the weather has warmed up. The downside is this will undoubtedly result in more…

We finally got a taste of some warm weather which means it’s time to starting thinking about summer activities. Most people enjoy a good day in the sun. Whether it’s lounging by the water , participating in sports or working outdoors, we all get our fair share of sun every summer. This week, I want…

Summer is almost here and a lot of folks are finally getting out in the yard to play with their plants. This will probably result in a lot of rashes showing up in doctors’ offices. Most of the rashes we see in the summer are caused by poison ivy, one of three plants in the…

Summer sports will be beginning soon and gardening and other outdoor chores are well underway. If they haven’t already, weekend warriors will soon be doing all sorts of things to keep doctors who treat musculoskeletal injuries busy. I want to give everyone some pointers in how to take care of the inevitable sprains and strains…

Welcome back to my two-part series on shoulder pain. First, I want to do a quick review of shoulder anatomy (see the diagram the right shoulder looking from the front). The upper arm bone (humerus) joins to the scapula at the glenoid and is held in place by two structures: (1) a rim of cartilage…