Dr. Amar Safdar, MD
Infectious Disease Specialist | Infectious Disease
125 W. Hague Rd 130 El Paso TX, 79902About
Dr. Amar Safdar is an infectious disease specialist practicing in El Paso, TX. Dr. Safdar specializes in infections that are difficult to diagnose or unresponsive to treatments, such as HIV or airborne infections from a foreign country. Infectious disease specialists usually work with conditions that are not treatable by a primary physician but it is important to keep contact with the primary physician in order to receive information about the patients history and for deciding which diagnostic tests are appropriate.
Dr. Amar Safdar, MD's Videos
Education and Training
Dow Med College University Of Karachi Pakistan MD
Dow Med College University Of Karachi Pakistan 1989
Board Certification
Infectious Disease (Internal Medicine)
Provider Details
Dr. Amar Safdar, MD's Expert Contributions
What causes the hand foot mouth disease?
Foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a childhood contagious illness, with an incubation period of three to six days. Easily spread from person-to-person. It is caused by an enterovirus, Coxsackievirus A type 16 (CVA16). Clinical presentation includes sore throat, nasal secretions, fever, feeling unwell painful, plus loss of appetite. Red, blisters on the tongue, mouth, and red rash that at times may form a blister involving the palms of hands, soles of feet and buttocks READ MORE
Should I be concerned about dengue?
Please find CDC update on Dengue in the US as follows: Nearly all dengue cases reported in the 48 contiguous US states were in travelers infected elsewhere. The few infectious Dengue outbreaks occasionally occur in the continental United States. Dengue is common in the US territories of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. In the United States, local dengue outbreaks most recently occurred in Hawaii (2015), Florida (2013), and Texas (2013). Most outbreaks in the United States have been relatively small and limited to small areas. The types of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) spread dengue are common throughout many areas of the United States, local spread of dengue is therefore, possible. READ MORE
Are the measles contagious?
Highly contagious infection, 90% of close contacts not immunized will develop the infections. The patient remains contagious 4 days before the rash starts and 4 days after the skin rash has resolved. READ MORE
Can fungal infection in the swimming pool spread from one person to another?
The fungal skin infections that are commonly called "ring worms" are contagious and can be acquired in the changing rooms, locker rooms, and so on. To prevent these from occurring, make sure not o share towels, bar of soap, swim trunks etc. READ MORE
Cough for 1 week plus - should I worry?
It could be an infection or allergies. I suggest you see a doctor if the cough has lasted for more than a week, as bronchitis is a concern. READ MORE
I have been suffering from dry cough for the last one month. What can I do?
Suggest you see your doctor and have a chest x-ray done. READ MORE
Is chicken pox really something you need a vaccine for?
It is of paramount importance to have children vaccinated against chicken pox as lack of immunization a) makes risk for community outbreaks a significant health issue for the well being of the community and b) individuals in whom vaccination is not given, the risk for potentially serious, life threatening complications significantly increases, if chicken pox is acquired as an adult. READ MORE
In how much time should an infection show up in the blood count report?
It depends where the infection is, for example: {} Pneumonia (lung infection) may have a positive blood culture also called bacteremia (isolation of bacteria from a blood sample) in some patients, although most with pneumonia will not have concurrent bacteremia. {} Cellulitis and abscesses (skin infection) - most patients over 70 to 80% will not have bacteremia {} UTI, especially bladder infections are not accompanied by bacteremia, albeit, kidney infection (pyelonephritis) it is not uncommon to have a positive blood culture. {} Bacterial meningitis may also occur with isolation of the bacteria from the blood. High white blood cell counts is often an indication if invasive infection, however, WBC may be elevated due to a host of reasons other than an infection. READ MORE
Can fungal infection cause low grade fever?
Most superficial fungal infection that involve skin and mucus membranes do not cause fever, examples of these are ring worm, thrush, Candida vaginosis; whereas, patients with invasive fungal disease such as invasion into sinuses, lungs, bloodstream, and those with meningitis, peritonitis may exhibit a febrile response. READ MORE
What are the viruses that could cause pneumonia?
Most common viral pneumonia in children include the following: {} Respiratory syncytial virus {} influenza viruses {} Parainfluenza virus {} Adenovirus, and Cytomegalovirus pneumonia are not common, especially in children with good immune function READ MORE
Can ringworm infection be treated?
Ring worm is Tinea Corporis, a fungal infection that involves the superficial part of skin. It take a little long to treat, unlike a bacterial infection such as cellulitis, and if not treated adequately, it may come back. Plus, it is also important to assess risk factors as these infections tend to be contagious among household contacts or other close physical contact, such as contact sports, workout gyms, etc. Amar Safdar, MD, FACP, FIDSA READ MORE
Zika virus?
CDC is actively engaged in surveillance of Zika virus recurrence during the upcoming spring and summer with rise in the vector (mosquitos) Here is the information from CDC: US States and DC: 5,676 US Territories: 37,190 *Source: ArboNET as of April 4, 2018 I think the virus remains a concern for now and have to see how this trend unfolds in 2018-2019 READ MORE
My father's wound test detected E.coli bacteria. Is it fatal?
Drug resistance has rapidly emerged among bacterias like E. coli, although vast majority of these infections are curable and need appropriate diagnosis and antibiotic therapy. There should also be evaluation for possible deep tissue infection/involvement, such decisions are often predicated upon the clinical presentation of infection. READ MORE
Is herpes an infectious disease?
Herpes simplex 1 & 2 are viruses that are highly contagious and common in the general population. Once infected, individuals harbor these viruses for the life-time. In patients with intact immune function, they may appear as painful shallow ulcers that resolve without treatment, during periods of stress. Commonly recognized as "cold sores" or "fever blisters' READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Professional Memberships
- Infectious Diseases Society of America
Dr. Amar Safdar, MD's Practice location
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Recommended Articles
- What is Antiviral Medication?
Antiviral medication refers to drugs that are used for treatment of HIV. These drugs do not completely treat the infection but are used to suppress the development of the virus and stop it from becoming AIDS. Since HIV virus replicates itself once it gets into the bloodstream, the medication stops...
- Lyme Disease: The Signs and Symptoms
Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called as Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans via a common tick after feeding on human blood. In most affected individuals, the disease is acute, which is only lasting for a short period of time. But for the rest, the bacteria...
- Early Stages of Lyme Disease
Lyme’s disease is acquired from the deer ticks which act as its host. The main cause, though, is a bacteria of the Borrelia type that is found in the tick saliva, and then transferred to humans whenever the tick bites.How do you contract Lyme disease?Deer ticks come in contact with humans in the...
- Mono Rash: Get the Facts
What is mono?Infectious mononucleosis or "mono" for short is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Although mono can affect people of all ages, it usually occurs in teenagers. The virus is transmitted and spread through infected saliva. For this reason, the infection is regarded...
- What Is Chickenpox?
The causing factor of chickenpox and the ways of transmissionThe causing agent is a virus called varicella-zoster, which is an airborne and really contagious germ. It can be spread while coughing and sneezing, with little droplets of the mucus thrown from the nose and throat. Another way of catching...
- What Is HSV-1?
Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1)HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus type 1 is a type of herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. It is called "oral herpes" because it often causes sores around the mouth or on the lips. Cold sores are also called as fever blisters. However, the sores can also be found...
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