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Dr. Minh-Chau Chuong Nguyen, MD is a pediatric critical care specialist in Columbia, MO specializing in pediatric critical care, general practice and pediatric hospital medicine. She graduated from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine. Dr. Minh-Chau Chuong Nguyen, MD is affiliated with University Hospital and University of Missouri Health Care.
1 HOSPITAL DRIVE
Columbia, MO 65212
1020 Hitt Street
Columbia, MO
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:
Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.
There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, happens when bacteria enter the body through the opening where urine is normally released. The bacteria infect the lining of the urethra and bladder, turning them red and inflamed. This causes pain in the abdomen or pelvic area, a burning sensation during urination, a sense of urgency about going to the bathroom, frequent urination, and urine that smells bad and looks cloudy, or even contains traces of blood. If the urinary tract infection is severe, it may travel all the way to the kidneys, a more serious kind of UTI called pyelonephritis. Patients with this kidney infection might have blood in their urine, feel back pain, and develop a fever.
Urinary tract infections are extremely common: 12% of all men and 40-50% of all women will have a urinary tract infection during their lifetime. They are more common in women because women have shorter urethras, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel from the outside of the body to the bladder and cause an infection. Some people also have urethras that are an unusual shape or have an obstruction in the urethra that makes getting a UTI more likely. Also, certain chronic illnesses like diabetes weaken the immune system, so any bacteria in the body are more likely to cause an infection.
A urinary tract infection can be diagnosed very quickly by a doctor. A sample of urine can be examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria or white blood cells. There are also diagnostic strips that can be used to test a urine sample without the need for a microscope. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment is a course of oral antibiotics, and most patients feel better within just a few days. There are some things that patients can do themselves to help reduce the risk of getting a urinary tract infection in the future. Stay well hydrated, wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom, wear breathable cotton undergarments, and don't hold it in when patients feel the urge to go.
Dr. Minh-Chau Chuong Nguyen, MD graduated from University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine. She completed residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and has a state license in Missouri.
Medical School: University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine
Residency: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics
Licensed In: Missouri
Dr. Minh-Chau Chuong Nguyen, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
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Dr. Minh-Chau Nguyen's medical specialty is general practice, pediatric hospital medicine, and pediatric critical care. She is affiliated with the University of Missouri Health Care. She obtained her medical school training at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine and performed her residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Dr. Nguyen welcomes new patients at her office inColumbia, MO as reported by University of Missouri Health Care.
