Posts from Those Nerdy Girls

All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.

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What should pregnant patients do when they have fever or pain?

Clinical Symptoms Uncertainty and Misinformation Videos

Here’s what Nerdy Girl and OB/GYN Dr. Katherine Cartwright wants you to know about pain and fever during pregnancy, including using acetaminophen (Tylenol or Paracetamol). Stay tuned for more from this series coming soon! 🤓 Those Nerdy Girls want to help you stay on the frontline of science and health information. ✨ Follow us on Read more…

Wait, there’s a nasal spray that prevents COVID-19 infection? Yes, please! ..or is it too good to be true?

COVID Variants Infectious Diseases Treatments

A recent study showed some promising results that azelastine nasal spray may prevent COVID-19 infection. More research is needed to know if this is true. âť“ What is azelastine? Azelastine (Ah-zeah-las-teen) is an allergy medication that works by blocking histamine, the substance your body releases when you have an allergic reaction. Histamine causes allergic symptoms Read more…

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Uncategorized

In honor of this day, Those Nerdy Girls would like to share inspiration and public health wisdom held by many Indigenous groups. They: 1. Recognize how their actions will impact the next 7 generations. You can apply this by considering the actions you take and whether they help protect ecosystems and public health so that Read more…

October 11, 2025, is the 13th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl

Social and Racial Justice Women in STEM

This celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” The International Day of the Girl: ✊ Focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face ✊ Promotes girls’ empowerment ✊ Works to protect and fulfill their human rights This year’s theme Read more…

Don’t get fooled by apples and oranges.

Data and Metrics Data Literacy

When you see headlines about changes in something scary like crime or disease, make sure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison. Otherwise, you might get fooled by faulty statistics. Let’s say you’re new to birdwatching. You want to know whether birds of a certain color—gray, for example—are most common near your house. You grab your notebook and Read more…

Do we all have worms?

General Health

Worms have been all over celebrity news lately and there are a lot of TikTok creators who are selling worm “cleanses.” There has also been a recent human infection of screwworms (which are actually parasitic fly larva) in the United States. So should you be worried about getting worms? Worm infections are a huge problem Read more…

There has been a lot about Tylenol in the news lately. Can you explain what the different pain and fever reducers are?

General Health Hot Health Topics Treatments

There are multiple over-the-counter fever and pain-reducing medications, but they are not all equal and some can be dangerous for certain people. It is important to know the differences so you can keep you and your family safe. Trying to choose a fever-reducing medication can be confusing. There are so many different drug names and Read more…

Q and A on shingles – part 2

Infectious Diseases Vaccines Videos

Part 2 of “Answers to Some of Your Nerdy Questions on the Shingles Vaccine.” Shingles is an extremely painful disease caused by the reawakening of the Varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Fortunately, there is a shingles vaccine that significantly reduces your chance of getting shingles. The vaccine is recommended for all adults Read more…

Should we be afraid of toxic mold?

General Health

Recently there have been some claims about a “toxic mold” epidemic on social media. While indoor mold is never a good thing, this claim probably doesn’t hold much weight. What is mold in the environment? Mold is a naturally occurring living organism [archived link] that can be found anywhere there is oxygen and moisture. Molds Read more…

“Is that the Navy?” An introduction to the United States Public Health Service.

Uncategorized

“Is that the Navy?” An introduction to the United States Public Health Service. The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is one of the federal uniformed services of the U.S. made up of highly skilled public health professionals. Think of them as America’s Health Responders. Officers in the USPHS work on the frontlines of public Read more…

Why Kids Get Sick So Much in Fall (And What You Can Do About It)

Families/Kids Infectious Diseases

Frequent illnesses in kids are usually normal this time of year, and parents and caregivers can take small science-backed steps to help. Fall is here—the season of crunchy leaves, cozy meals, and…endless sniffles. If your child seems to catch every bug floating around this time of year, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything Read more…

Q and A on shingles

Infectious Diseases Vaccines Videos

Shingles is an extremely painful disease caused by the reawakening of the Varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Fortunately, there is a shingles vaccine that significantly reduces your chance of getting shingles. The vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50. This includes people who had chickenpox, the chickenpox vaccine, an older Zostavax Read more…

I’ve been hearing a lot about organ donation — should I worry, and how can I make my wishes known?

General Health Health Policy

Organ donation is a complicated medical and legal topic, and some are calling for more transparency and regulation. Learning about the process can help you know how to communicate your wishes ahead of time. We don’t typically think of organ donation as a controversial topic. When I applied for my first driver’s license I checked Read more…

There is so much information about who can and can’t get the COVID vaccine this fall. Can you clear things up?

Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases Vaccines

The fall COVID vaccines received FDA approval recently, but had significant changes to who can get them. These changes mean that the COVID-19 vaccines may be harder to access this year than in the past. But their importance has not changed, nor has the science that supports their effectiveness. If you have the ability, you Read more…

I asked a bunch of kids what a “healthy neighborhood” looks like to them.

Families/Kids Health Policy Nerdy Notes

This is another in our new series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse. In these posts, our Nerdy Girl scientists and clinicians will share personal stories, insights, poetry, and more. While these posts may be lighter in terms of numbers and figures, they will still be rooted in our tradition and commitment to providing Read more…