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Winning the War Against Congestion

Congestion

Congestion can be caused by allergies, the common cold, or a number of other illnesses. Find out what's causing your congestion and what you can do about it.

What Causes Congestion?

Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders Spotlight10

Strep Throat Persists Despite the Lateness of the Season

Wednesday April 27, 2011

You may have heard it on the news. It's almost May and yet doctors are still reporting a high number of strep throat cases.  The real question is, why? While I haven't heard anything official I have my own opinions about this year's strep "epidemic". The bacteria responsible for most of this year's strep seems to be particularly virulent and contagious. I had my first strep infection in 15 years. While runny nose, coughing and sneezing are usually not caused by strep throat this strain seems to run a whole gamut of atypical symptoms.

My daughter had strep this February and was so congested that I mistook her symptoms for RSV. Keep in mind that I worked as an R.N. in pediatrics through three RSV seasons. Her symptoms were almost identical, the poor girl could hardly breathe. I was biding my time to take her to the E.R. but never suspected strep. To make matters even more confusing through the first week or so she continued eat and drink as if she did not have a sore throat. This is unusual because doctors rely on a very painful sore throat as the number one defining symptom of strep (see Symptoms of Strep Throat).

The only reason we figured out that my daughter had strep was was because my husband caught it and went to the doctor. When he had a positive strep test the rest of the family was put on antibiotics. My daughter immediately improved but the infection had caused fluid in her ears and a massive sinus infection which led to surgery. All in all she was sick for almost two months. That is a very long time to be contagious and potentially spreading strep to others.

Most of the time, symptoms of strep should subside within 24 hours of receiving antibiotics yet my husband and I still had symptoms until the entire course of antibiotics was completely finished. Even four weeks after the onset, we were both extremely fatigued and my husband, who at one time had mono, continued to have swollen, white, tonsils. We believe my daughter caught the illness from her school. It swept through the faculty and student body rapidly and at one point so many teachers had called in sick that they almost had to cancel school.

To wrap things up this is why I believe we are still having so much strep throat this late in the season:

  • People are delaying treatment because this strain of the streptococcus bacteria causes symptoms that are more similar to a cold virus than strep throat.
  • This strain of bacteria seems to last longer, giving an infected individual more time to spread the illness to others.
  • This strain of bacteria may be harder to kill with standard antibiotics or just take longer. Because people may think that the antibiotic isn't working they may stop treatment before it is finished.
  • Because this type of strep results in such a long course of illness (3-4 weeks) people are returning to work and school too soon.

Of course, until the scientific community studies the bacterial strain causing this year's strep and comes out with something official this is all just speculation. What do you think? Have you had a similar experience with strep throat this year? Leave your comments below.

And, if you are suffering from strep throat or if you suspect you may have strep throat you might wish to read some of the following articles.

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Do Allergies Increase Your Risk For Depression?

Monday April 18, 2011

Do allergies increase your risk for depression? That is the question reporter Anahad O'Connor
asks in a recent article for the New York Times. O'Connor claims that many studies have found a link between allergies and depression. Is this true? And, if so, why? O'Connor seems to think that genetics, cytokines and corticosteroid medications may be the root of the problem. Personally, I have another theory as to why allergies and depression are linked.

There are almost no chronic illnesses that have not been linked to depression. Being sick sucks. And, while we don't think of people with allergies as being sick, they are. Allergies cause not only sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes but fatigue. A decrease in energy levels alone can severely affect ones quality of life. There is no cure for allergies. It is an illness that you may have little support in coping with since it is rarely viewed as a debilitating disease. Allergies cost money - money for medications, money for doctors visits, money for allergy shots. Allergies are a financial burden. All of these are good reasons why depression and allergies may go hand in hand.

So what is the bottom line here? Anyone who suffers from allergies themselves or who has a loved one who suffers from allergies should be aware of a possible link between allergies and depression. Symptoms of depression include: fatigue, a loss of interest in hobbies or other activities that used to be enjoyable, weight gain or loss, problems sleeping or sleeping too much, anxiety, and of course feeling sad or irritable nearly every day. If you have these symptoms or notice these symptoms in your child you should get medical treatment to avoid life threatening complications of depression.

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Could That Swollen Tongue be Kawasaki Disease?

Tuesday April 12, 2011

You may have heard on the news that cases of Kawasaki disease are on the rise, especially in China and Japan. Likewise, I have seen a significant increase in the number of my readers who are looking for swollen tongue causes. Are the two related? Actually, swollen tongue is a symptom of Kawasaki disease. The illness causes the tongue to become swollen and extremely red, something health care workers sometimes call "strawberry tongue". However, this rare autoimmune disorder, which targets children, is still not a real likely culprit. Kawasaki disease is rare - one article I read cited 2,000-4,000 cases in the United States each year, another said the incidence in the U.S. was 19 in 100,000 children.

There is a higher rate of Kawasaki disease among individuals with Asian ancestry but children of all races can get it. In addition to swollen tongue, symptoms of Kawasaki disease include: swollen lymph nodes, fever, skin rash, red eyes, and bright red chapped lips. Other symptoms may appear as the disease progresses and can involve the heart so it is important to get medical help. The cause of Kawasaki disease is not clear but scientists and doctors believe that their is an infectious etiology. Is there an underlying virus sweeping through China and Japan right now? Officials aren't really sure. Because the exact cause is unknown it may be difficult to stop the spread of the disease.

If your child has a swollen tongue your best bet is to go to the doctor. Besides Kawasaki disease a swollen tongue can be a symptom of other very serious illnesses like epiglottitis or a life threatening allergic reaction. For more information read What Causes a Swollen Tongue?

Kawasaki disease is treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and high doses of aspirin. The sooner you get treatment the more likely you are to make a full recovery. Without treatment most children recover eventually but may have cardiovascular problems that are permanent. If you suspect your child has Kawasaki disease you should get medical attention as soon as possible.

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Successful Cat Allergy Vaccine Brings Hope to People With Seasonal Allergies

Friday April 1, 2011

If you're allergic to cat dander you'll be pleased to know that researchers at McMaster University have developed a vaccine to prevent cat allergies that has shown little to no side effects in initial studies. The vaccine, called peptide immunotherapy, is made of a protein that cats secrete on their fur and researchers believe the same concept can be used to create vaccines for other allergies, giving hope to people with seasonal allergies as well. In fact, McMaster University and Adiga Life Sciences, (a company working with the university researchers to develop the vaccine), are already working together to create vaccines for dust mites, ragweed, grass, birch tree and molds. The cat vaccine is administered under the skin like typical allergy shots and may require 4-8 doses a year but does not seem to cause the same side effects as traditional allergy shots do. The cat vaccine is entering phase three of FDA trials.

The news couldn't have come at a better time since April 1st kicks off another year of seasonal allergies with the start of the Gottlieb pollen count. Dr. Joseph Leija will provide daily pollen counts for the midwest which can now be accessed online through twitter and facebook. In a Newswise article Dr. Leija predicted mold counts to be high this year as a result of a wet winter. For more information on how to utilize the pollen count as well as manage your seasonal allergies read:

What Causes Hayfever?

How to Detect an Allergen and Remove it From Your Home

Diagnosing and Treating Seasonal Allergies

To read more about peptide immunotherapy read:

Vaccine Has Pet Owners Feline Groovy

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