EXPERT
Dr. Elliot Francke
Infectious Disease Specialist
Dr. Elliot Francke is an infectious disease specialist practicing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Francke 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. Elliot Francke
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Northwestern University
- Accepting new patients
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Ventelation and covid vaccination during pregnancy?
Thanks for your question. I presume you mean placed on a ventilator in an ICU. All patients with a history of COVID need to be vaccinated, because it has been established that READ MORE
Thanks for your question. I presume you mean placed on a ventilator in an ICU. All patients with a history of COVID need to be vaccinated, because it has been established that for a significant percentage, the immunity from the infection itself is inadequate for future protection. The vaccine should be given about 90 days (or more) after the original onset of the infection. Pregnancy is not a reason to demur on this decision, and the vaccine is safe in pregnancy, according to all studies so far on the mothers and babies.
Post-covid pneumonia?
Thanks for the question.
Your condition requires listening to the lungs, and an X-ray or CT scan. Likely you do have pneumonia, with irritation of the pleura, which is the READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
Your condition requires listening to the lungs, and an X-ray or CT scan. Likely you do have pneumonia, with irritation of the pleura, which is the lining tissue of the lungs. Alternatives are atelectasis, or collapse of a small part of the lung, or clotting related to COVID, or pulmonary embolism, a clotting traveling to the lung. Your doctor can assist you with making the correct diagnosis.
Your condition requires listening to the lungs, and an X-ray or CT scan. Likely you do have pneumonia, with irritation of the pleura, which is the lining tissue of the lungs. Alternatives are atelectasis, or collapse of a small part of the lung, or clotting related to COVID, or pulmonary embolism, a clotting traveling to the lung. Your doctor can assist you with making the correct diagnosis.
Medications for covid?
Thanks for the question.
Hydroxychloroquine is proven to have no effect on Covid, and may have long-term side effects. Ivermectin does not treat the virus, but may inhibit READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
Hydroxychloroquine is proven to have no effect on Covid, and may have long-term side effects. Ivermectin does not treat the virus, but may inhibit the body's severe response to the virus. Studies are equivocal, because the effect requires potentially toxic doses of the drug. I do not recommend it.
Hydroxychloroquine is proven to have no effect on Covid, and may have long-term side effects. Ivermectin does not treat the virus, but may inhibit the body's severe response to the virus. Studies are equivocal, because the effect requires potentially toxic doses of the drug. I do not recommend it.
Bird poop—should I worry?
Thanks for the question.
Bird droppings do carry some diseases, but they are rarely an issue outdoors with short exposures. Keep your yard clean and well groomed. You cannot READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
Bird droppings do carry some diseases, but they are rarely an issue outdoors with short exposures. Keep your yard clean and well groomed. You cannot avoid environmental exposures 100 percent. Masks also help, but would best be recommended if your child is immunosuppressive. Follow the doctor's recommendations for lung hygiene with CF. And always consult her or him with specific questions.
Bird droppings do carry some diseases, but they are rarely an issue outdoors with short exposures. Keep your yard clean and well groomed. You cannot avoid environmental exposures 100 percent. Masks also help, but would best be recommended if your child is immunosuppressive. Follow the doctor's recommendations for lung hygiene with CF. And always consult her or him with specific questions.
STD?
Thanks for the question.
You may have given him Chlamydia. You should get treated and be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, and consider telling him to also be READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
You may have given him Chlamydia. You should get treated and be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, and consider telling him to also be tested. If you need to remain anonymous, you can tell the people at the state health department his name when they contact you, and they will do the notification. You should also let your doctor know, if your diagnosis wasn't made by him or her. And use what protection you can!
I hope you will be treated and do well.
You may have given him Chlamydia. You should get treated and be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases, and consider telling him to also be tested. If you need to remain anonymous, you can tell the people at the state health department his name when they contact you, and they will do the notification. You should also let your doctor know, if your diagnosis wasn't made by him or her. And use what protection you can!
I hope you will be treated and do well.
Monoclonul infusion?
Thanks for the question.
Even after monoclonal antibody treatment, symptoms vary. What we do know is that the infusion prevents more severe disease in almost all cases. Look READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
Even after monoclonal antibody treatment, symptoms vary. What we do know is that the infusion prevents more severe disease in almost all cases. Look for very gradual improvement in cough and fatigue, over weeks. If that doesn't happen, see your doctor!
Even after monoclonal antibody treatment, symptoms vary. What we do know is that the infusion prevents more severe disease in almost all cases. Look for very gradual improvement in cough and fatigue, over weeks. If that doesn't happen, see your doctor!
COVID for 6 days?
You should receive the monoclonal antibodies if you start to get short of breath or develop a cough. Also, discuss this with your doctor. You would be balancing the small risk READ MORE
You should receive the monoclonal antibodies if you start to get short of breath or develop a cough. Also, discuss this with your doctor. You would be balancing the small risk of the infusion and the high cost against the potential benefit, and there is no way to predict how much sicker you will get without the infusion.
Pfizer needle?
Thanks for the question. Yes, you can. There is no interaction.
Bug bite?
Thanks for the question. These are indeed bites. They could come from a variety of arthropods or insects, from bedbugs to spiders. Treat them with the exception usual agents - READ MORE
Thanks for the question. These are indeed bites. They could come from a variety of arthropods or insects, from bedbugs to spiders. Treat them with the exception usual agents - local steroid or Benadryl cream, and you can take oral antihistamines.
Allergy to covid shot?
Thanks for the question!
There is polysorbate, but no petrolatum alcohol, in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Although they should be safe, you want to make sure you are watched READ MORE
Thanks for the question!
There is polysorbate, but no petrolatum alcohol, in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Although they should be safe, you want to make sure you are watched for a reaction at the vaccine site. You can avoid the issue entirely by obtaining the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Do none of this without consulting with your doctor and an allergist.
There is polysorbate, but no petrolatum alcohol, in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Although they should be safe, you want to make sure you are watched for a reaction at the vaccine site. You can avoid the issue entirely by obtaining the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Do none of this without consulting with your doctor and an allergist.
The best mask to wear?
All masks help, but if you can find a cloth mask with a filter, or double mask, that will work almost as well as an N95.
Thanks for the question!
Thanks for the question!
Ivermectin for covid?
Studies do not confirm that Ivermectin works for Covid. Doses tried range from a single dose up to 600mg or even 1200 mg per day for 5 days. I do not recommend it.
Thanks for READ MORE
Studies do not confirm that Ivermectin works for Covid. Doses tried range from a single dose up to 600mg or even 1200 mg per day for 5 days. I do not recommend it.
Thanks for the question.
Thanks for the question.
CT scan of my lung?
Thanks for the question.
The CT is blurry. Please show your doctor.
The CT is blurry. Please show your doctor.
Bullseye-like rash on wrist, no known tick bite, 4 days after COVID shot?
Thanks for your question! This is a true bullseye rash, which is not due to the vaccine. Tick bites, eczema, and other causes are possible. Please see your doctor or a dermatologist READ MORE
Thanks for your question! This is a true bullseye rash, which is not due to the vaccine. Tick bites, eczema, and other causes are possible. Please see your doctor or a dermatologist for further delineation.
Covid?
Thanks for the question!
All the data support that the only special reaction to the vaccine is a marked rise in immunity to reinfection. Otherwise, side effects are the same READ MORE
Thanks for the question!
All the data support that the only special reaction to the vaccine is a marked rise in immunity to reinfection. Otherwise, side effects are the same as anyone receiving the vaccine.
All the data support that the only special reaction to the vaccine is a marked rise in immunity to reinfection. Otherwise, side effects are the same as anyone receiving the vaccine.
Covid question?
Thanks for the question.
This one is tough, especially because studies do not show lower viral levels in vaccinated, but delta infected people than in unvaccinated people. READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
This one is tough, especially because studies do not show lower viral levels in vaccinated, but delta infected people than in unvaccinated people. Consider that vaccinated patients with delta rarely require hospitalization. That has to be because lung invasion is much less if the patient is vaccinated. One might infer that other organs are also less invaded, but there is no study or proof yet. As to your child, yes, vaccinated students with delta, but not the original virus, can acquire and spread infection. Again, no studies yet, but we know that if your student acquires delta, since he is vaccinated, he will almost certainly not get sick enough for hospitalization. But masks and distancing will help prevent spread of infection!
This one is tough, especially because studies do not show lower viral levels in vaccinated, but delta infected people than in unvaccinated people. Consider that vaccinated patients with delta rarely require hospitalization. That has to be because lung invasion is much less if the patient is vaccinated. One might infer that other organs are also less invaded, but there is no study or proof yet. As to your child, yes, vaccinated students with delta, but not the original virus, can acquire and spread infection. Again, no studies yet, but we know that if your student acquires delta, since he is vaccinated, he will almost certainly not get sick enough for hospitalization. But masks and distancing will help prevent spread of infection!
Hantaviruses?
Thanks for the question.
While field mice do carry pathogens, you did the right thing. I would suggest wearing a filter mask when doing this job.
While field mice do carry pathogens, you did the right thing. I would suggest wearing a filter mask when doing this job.
15 month old child and covid?
Thanks for the question.
Unfortunately, if any household member is positive for Covid, all members must be quarantined, including the child. Since the child is already exposed READ MORE
Thanks for the question.
Unfortunately, if any household member is positive for Covid, all members must be quarantined, including the child. Since the child is already exposed and cannot quarantine alone, there is no place safe to send the child, unless you know of one. Use best possible precautions at home, including masks, handwriting, and minimizing contact. Retest the child after all other household members are more than 2 weeks after onset.
I wish you all well.
Unfortunately, if any household member is positive for Covid, all members must be quarantined, including the child. Since the child is already exposed and cannot quarantine alone, there is no place safe to send the child, unless you know of one. Use best possible precautions at home, including masks, handwriting, and minimizing contact. Retest the child after all other household members are more than 2 weeks after onset.
I wish you all well.
Creatine after covid vaccine?
Thanks for the question. Yes, it is safe.
COVID vaccine?
Celiac disease has no effect on the vaccine, and the vaccine has no effect on Celiac disease. Please do get the vaccine.
Thanks for the question!
Thanks for the question!
