Question: Is there any difference between bottled water and tap water? I keep hearing that drinking bottled water over tap water is healthier.
Answer: In general, there are no health benefits from drinking bottled water over tap water. Both must meet certain criteria that ensure safety. Many people just prefer bottled water because the bottle is easy to carry along. If you are more sensitive to color, odor and taste in tap water, drinking bottled water is just as good of an alternative.
Marné Devillier, MD, Family Medicine Physician with Maplewood Family Medical Clinic
Question: My 7-month-old son gets a croupy cough from time to time. My mother has suggested that we give him a steam bath, but I don’t see how this will work. What do you think?
Answer: There’s a reason moms give advice, experience is a good teacher! Changes in humidity and air temperature are useful in managing mild croup at home. But, studies have shown that it doesn’t work as efficiently in severe croup cases treated in an emergency room.
Croup is characterized by a distinctive barking cough caused by inflammation around the vocal cords. Other signs and symptoms of croup include fever and a hoarse voice.
In mild cases of croup, soothing your child while sitting in a steamy bathroom may provide relief from a coughing episode. If it doesn’t help, this is usually an indication that your child needs medical attention. Medications are available to ease severe coughing and keep airways open.
Jenny Thomas, MD, Pediatrician with the Pediatric Center
Questions may be submitted to: Healthy Advice, 716 E. Napoleon St., Sulphur, LA 70663 or by emailing healthyadvice@wcch.com. Questions cannot be answered individually, but will be considered for publication. Please check with your physician for specific recommendations concerning your health concerns. This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Healthy Advice is a weekly column from West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital.
