Why Are We Diagnosed With Viral Infections?
Most of us who are adults hate going to the doctor only to be diagnosed with a "viral infection". In non-healthcare speak that means "we don't know exactly what is making you sick and we can't do anything about it, but it will go away on it's own eventually". On one hand, being diagnosed with a viral infection is good because it (typically) means nothing is seriously wrong. On the other hand, it means there isn't much you can do to make yourself feel better any sooner.
While it isn't always the case, a majority of people who are diagnosed with a viral infection have symptoms such as congestion, coughing, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. These may due to any number of common viral infections, or they could be due to one of the thousands of viruses we don't have specific names for.
If you are frustrated or still have questions about your diagnosis, you are not alone! Over 100 readers are talking about their viral infections and you can share your experience too.
What is Influenza B?
Although flu season is officially over for now, you can still get it and you may have heard that there is more than one type of influenza. Influenza A is the most common but it is broken down into many different subtypes and even more strains which mutate frequently.
Influenza B is not as common as influenza A but it still causes outbreaks of influenza and is included every year in the seasonal flu vaccine.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between influenza A and B? Do they cause different symptoms or is one more serious than the other? We have information about every type of influenza and have articles that go into more detail about influenza A and influenza B and what they mean for you.
Should You Go to the Doctor?
Are you congested? Have a sore throat, fever, headache or vomiting? Or do you have other symptoms but can't figure out what is causing them? How do you know when your symptoms warrant a visit to the doctor's office?
It can be hard to figure out. You don't want to spend the time and money sitting in the office just to be told it's nothing and to wait it out, but then you don't want to overlook anything serious either. This can be an even more difficult dilemma when you have young children and you are trying to decide if you should take them to the doctor.
Luckily, we have some guidelines that can help you figure it all out. You can evaluate many of your common symptoms and find out what could be causing them, whether you need to be seen for them and what your treatment options are.
We also have a very helpful guide from a prominent Pediatrician that will help you determine when you should take your child to the doctor and when it's probably okay to stay home.
The Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor
Do you have a Berenstain Bears fan at your house? Or do you have young kids who aren't so sure about going to the doctor? Either way, the Berenstain Bears Go to the Doctor is probably a book that you and your kids will both love.
As entertaining as it is for kids, it will help prepare them and maybe even calm a few nerves before a check up or sick visit. I am always looking for books that help explain getting sick or staying healthy to children. As a mom, I think reading to my kids is one of the best ways to teach them. They relate better to other children (or animals) in books that are going through similar experiences than they do to me telling them what to expect.
Do you have a favorite book to read to your kids about going to the doctor, getting sick or staying healthy? Share in the comments or leave your suggestions on Your Picks: Sick Day Books for Kids.
How Deadly Was the 1918 Flu Pandemic?
When H1N1 spread across the globe in 2009 it caused a bit of a panic. Public health officials worried that it could develop into a deadly pandemic that had the potential to kill millions of people. Many people compared it to the 1918 flu pandemic and wondered if it would end up being similar.
But how much do you know about the 1918 flu pandemic? Just how deadly was it? No one knows for sure because exact records weren't kept at the time, but experts believe somewhere between 20 and 50 million people worldwide lost their lives during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. It was, by far, the most deadly of the flu pandemics in the last century.
Uncommon Complications of the Flu
There are certain illnesses that are considered fairly common complications of the flu. Things like pneumonia, bronchitis and ear infections occur in many people after they have influenza. However, there are other secondary infections that are less common, but in some cases, may be more serious.
Three members of the same family lost their lives to influenza this year and it was found that two of them also had secondary infections with MRSA. It is a sad reminder that infections like this can occur and in some cases are life threatening.
When you get the flu, your body's defenses are weakened and you are more susceptible to picking up other germs. Whether it is an ear infection or MRSA, you need to pay attention to your body and your symptoms. If you have been sick for several days or a week and are starting to feel like you are getting better but then suddenly start feeling worse or develop new symptoms, contact your health care provider. These are signs that you may have developed a secondary infection and you need to be seen.
Teens Getting Drunk on Hand Sanitizer?
I am a big fan of hand sanitizer for it's benefits in keeping our hands clean and cutting down on germs when soap and water aren't available. Unfortunately, it seems some teenagers have been using it to get drunk. Most hand sanitizers contain at least 62% ethyl alcohol and by using instructions they found on the internet, these teenagers made a solution that they could ingest to get drunk.
It's disturbing - and dangerous. Several teenagers have ended up in the hospital in Los Angeles over the past couple of months after drinking the solution they made and getting seriously ill.
Experts have recommended that parents buy the foaming hand sanitizer because it is more difficult to turn into a drinkable solution. If you feel this could be a serious problem for your teenager, perhaps it is a step you may want to take. Talk to your kids about the dangers of ingesting products like this. It's not a cool new way to get drunk, it's dumb and it could kill you. Hopefully this won't become a widespread "trend".
Can You Catch a Cold in the Summer?
If cold and flu season occurs during the fall and winter, then we should be in the clear for spring and summer, right? Unfortunately, that's not how it works. While colds are much more common during the fall and winter months, they are still around when it's warm outside too.
So, as much as people like to blame their illnesses on the weather, there just isn't much scientific evidence to back up that belief. Find out why we still catch colds in the summer and what you can do about it.
Your Allergy Season Survival Guide
Allergy season has hit most of the US and it's hit us hard. Everywhere you go, people are sneezing and itching. The combination of a mild winter and early spring has made this year's allergy season especially bad.
If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffers from seasonal allergies (or year round allergies, like me), you are probably desperately searching for some type of relief. Or perhaps this is the first year you are experiencing allergy symptoms and you aren't sure what you should do, or if you even really have allergies.
We have the answers you are looking for regardless of whether you are a long time allergy sufferer or you are experiencing these symptoms for the first time. We'll help you get through allergy season and on with your life.
Learning About the Variant Flu
You may remember hearing last year that a variant strain of influenza had been identified in several people across the country. This flu was not the same one that was causing illness in most people and it had genes from avian, swine and human influenza viruses. The CDC identified this variant flu as influenza A H3N2v. A total of 12 cases were reported in 2011, a much higher number than had been seen in previous years. However, the CDC believes that the increase could be due to better surveillance and monitoring on the part of health professionals and public health officials after reporting systems were improved during the 2009 flu pandemic.
Regardless of whether there has been a true increase in the number of cases of this variant flu or we are just more aware of it now, scientists have been working hard to determine what type of threat it may carry for the general population and how we can control it.
It has demonstrated the ability to be transmitted from human to human but has not proven to be very lethal. Of the 12 cases reported last year, only three of the patients were hospitalized and all fully recovered. 11 of the 12 cases occurred in children younger than 10 years old, the other was an adult male who was exposed to pigs at work. Five of the children that became ill were exposed to pigs as well.
One of the most significant findings reported is that children under 10 years old appear to have no antibodies to this strain of influenza, while those over 10 years old do. In addition, vaccination with the seasonal influenza vaccine does not appear to provide protection against this variant flu in children under 10 years old but does provide some protection against it in adults. Should this variant flu become a widespread threat, a vaccine against this strain can be developed.