Bronchitis and Tonsillitis – Causes and diagnose
The condition called bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tree; tonsillitis is the inflammation of to tonsils localized on the posterior side of the mouth. Both diseases are caused mainly by bacteria or viruses, but can also be unleashed by polluting factors or different substances causing irritation. The most common cause of tonsillitis is still the bacteria Streptococcus with its preferred localization in the mouth and throat.
In bronchitis, the occurred inflammation affects the cills on the bronchial mucosa and lowers their movements so they cannot evacuate mucus and foreign particles no more. Also the mucus secretion is stimulated and the phenomenon of coughing appears during bronchitis. Triggers of bronchial inflammation are especially inhaled dust or pollutants, smoking, but also viral determinants such as Rhinoviruses, Adenoviruses, Influenza and Epstein-Barr.
Tonsils have an immune and evacuating function but viral or bacterial infection hinders the drainage leading to inflammation and pain. Most important infectious factors in tonsillitis are Streptococcus group A and viruses like Herpes simplex I, Adenovirus, Enterovirus, Epstein-Barr and the flu causing viruses Influenza and Parainfluenza.
The primer symptoms of bronchial inflammation are coughing with mucus expectoration, chest pains, dispneea (difficult breathing) and all signs of regular colds. Tonsillitis is characterized by symptoms like a sore throat and disfagia (pain while swallowing), fever, pain, nausea, anorexia and chills.
Most difficult to diagnose is bronchitis as it can easily be mistaken with asthma. Proper tests for diagnose are chest X-ray, listening breathing with the stethoscope, pulmonary function tests and collecting sputum for bacterial cultures.
Tonsillitis is diagnosed only by checking the swollen tonsils with a spatula and collecting a pharyngeal probe to determine if the infection is bacterial or viral. Bacterial infection will require antibiotics but viruses won' respond to such treatment.
If not treated bronchitis can become chronic and increase the risk of lung cancer, contribute to apparition of asthma or make the pulmonary tract more vulnerable to infections. Complications of untreated tonsillitis might be obstruction of mouth and upper airways and an abscess that could spread in the entire body. Especially untreated Streptococcus causes heart, kidney, skin and liver damages.
Treating bronchitis requires painkillers like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, assisted breathing in acute bronchitis and ant biotherapy with macrolides if Chlamydia or Mycoplasma are present.
Streptococcus in tonsillitis must be attacked parenteral Penicillin; in severe cases of more than six tonsillitis attacks per year surgery to remove the tonsils is indicated. Tonsillectomy is also necessary when the inflammation obstructs the throat.
The potential severe complications of long-term infection left untreated must imply more interest in healing the inflammation and treating the primer infection. Researches to find better and right cures are made all over the world.
Influenza – How to Treat Flu Symptoms at Home
Influenza is the most common disease in the U.S. that can be prevented by vaccination. Yet, 5-20% of the population (about 15-60 million people) come down with this potentially life threatening respiratory illness. Annually, there are approximately 36,00 deaths related to influenza.
Serious complication due to the flu can occur at any age. However, children, people over 65 years of age, and those with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk. The symptoms of the flu include: fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny and stuffy nose, and body aches. These symptoms usually occur suddenly, and those affected report feeling as if they were "hit by a truck." Although symptoms of a regular cold are similar, they develop gradually over a few days and are not as intense as the symptoms of the flu.
The influenza virus multiplies in the lungs and it spreads from one person to another via droplets from coughing and sneezing. That's why it is very important to cover your mouth (preferably with your sleeve, not the hand) when coughing or sneezing. Washing your hands is also crucial to prevent the spread of the virus.
What to do when the virus strikes?
Two of the most important things that you can do for yourself or your family members when they get the flu is to rest and drink plenty of clear fluids. Warm tea with honey and lemon for older children and adults, as well as chicken soup (homemade is the best, but canned counts too) will help to thin out secretions. Scientists confirmed what moms and grandmas knew all along: chicken soup helps in upper respiratory illnesses by loosening up mucus. Therefore, a daily dose of chicken soup daily during the illness will help you feel better and may speed up the recovery. If you are a vegetarian, vegetable broth or warm tea with honey will do.
Do not be afraid of the fever. Fever simply means that the body is trying to fight off the infection. Since it stimulates the immune system, reducing the fever may not be necessarily beneficial. I use general rules of thumb when counseling patients about the fever treatment:
If the fever is less than 102 and the patient is comfortable, I suggest fluids and cool compresses to the neck, armpits, and the groin area. The skin in those areas is thinner than anywhere else and blood vessels are closer to the surface. Cool compresses will help to cool the blood, thus reducing the fever. But do not let the feverish person shiver as shivering, which is caused by contracting muscles, increases the body's temperature.
If the fever gets to 102 or above, or for any fever that causes discomfort, I suggest acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol), or ibuprofen (i.e. Motrin, or Advil) in addition to fluids, rest, and compresses.
Viral illnesses, such as the influenza, may produce fever lasting for 3-4 days. At any time the fever persists beyond 3 days, or it cannot be controlled with fever reducing medicines like Tylenol or Motrin, you should seek evaluation of your health care provider.
Most people recover from the influenza in about 1-2 weeks. However, a significant number of people infected with the flu will develop complications, such as an ear or sinus infection, pneumonia, or encephalitis. In addition, the flu may exacerbate chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart diseases, or COPD. Furthermore, a significant fatigue that accompanies the influenza may persist for 3-4 weeks.
One of the most effective ways to prevent getting sick with the flu is through vaccination. Young children 6 months of age or older, adults over 65 years of age, people with chronic illnesses, especially those affecting the respiratory and cardiac system, should get vaccinated against the influenza annually
When the flu strikes, the following will help you get better:
Rest
Warm clear fluids (no milk as it thickens mucus and worsens symptoms)
Chicken soup (loosens up mucus)
Expectorant (i.e. Robitussin, Mucinex)*
Fever reducing agents (i.e. Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil)*
Saline nasal drops (relieve congestion)
Antiviral medications prescribed by your health care provider
Possibly antibiotics
*Contact your health care provider to get safe dosing instructions for children
Why do I need to get the flu shot every year?
The influenza virus is very adaptable and is constantly changing. Different strains of the virus may exchange their genes or simply mutate leading to the birth of new influenza strains. The influenza vaccine available to us every fall is a result of scientific predications as to which influenza strain will predominate in the up-coming season. Since no prediction is ever exact, the available vaccine may not necessarily be 100% effective if the prediction for the season turns out inaccurate. In addition, since the virus has the ability to change rapidly from season to season, the flu vaccine that will be available to us this year probably would not be effective in the next flu season. Thus we should get vaccinated against the influenza every fall.
Symptoms Of Sinus Infection – 10 Ways To Tell If You Have A Sinus Infection And Where To Go For Help
Here are the 10 most common symptoms of sinus infection. Does any of these sound like the problems you are having right now?
Pain and/or pressure in the area of your eyes or forehead. Or pain in the very top of your head - especially if the pain gets more intense when you bend over or move your head quickly. Sinus drainage. This can be any color from clear to greenish-yellow or even bloody. And it may not drain out your nose. Often your sinuses will drain down the back of your throat-and you swallow it. Nausea or upset stomach-often caused by swallowing the drainage. Fatigue-Even when you should feel rested. This is the sneakiest one of all. This is the one that creeps up on you slowly and unnoticed. If you are living with the symptoms on this list you are certainly not reaching your true potential at work, family life or at rest. Blocked nasal or sinus passages. Especially at night. Are you sleeping with your mouth open because you cant breathe through your nose when you lie down? Do you have a poor sense of smell or taste? If you are staying clogged up with mucous I bet you do. Bad breath. Think about it this way-your senses of smell and taste are really messed up right now-and you can still smell and taste your bad breath. What does everybody else think about your breath right now? Ear pain. It's not uncommon for a bad sinus infection to spread to your inner ears. Sore Throat. Chills, fever or general malaise. Are you feeling generally crappy? If you are suffering from any of the sinus infection symptoms above you have my support. I really do know how you feel. I had chronic sinus infections for literally decades.
I had decided to just "live" with my symptoms, until they got so intense that they cost me my job-and nearly my home.
I had gotten so sick I couldn't hold a job, or support my family. I was scared. And miserable.
It was a real-life-up-close look at losing everything. I am thankful to be healthy again.
The thing that gave me back control over my life was the knowledge that my chronic sinus infections were caused by a fungal (yeast) infection.
And in case you don't already know-Antibiotics treat bacterial, not fungal infections. This means that even when you have just finished that course of antibiotics your Doctor gave you, the real fungal cause of your problem is as alive as ever up there in your head. And just like a bad pop singer is already planning a comeback!
The following is a direct quote from Dr David Sherris, a M.D. and Mayo Clinic researcher:
"We've seen significant improvement in the quality of life for the large majority of patients with chronic sinus infection who were treated with anti-fungal drugs."
Dr Sherris also added:
"Many of them had been miserable for years and were severely hampered at work and in social situations by their illness. Many are pain-free and able to breathe effectively through their noses for the first time in years."
OK... Now we know that the most advanced research hospital in the world has taken the position that "the large majority" of folks who suffer from chronic sinus infections could benefit tremendously from treating the real fungal cause of our problems.
But what about the rest of us who don't have access to the cutting edge research trials at Mayo Clinic?
We have to be a little more resourceful. And thats OK. We can find ways to help ourselves.
There are genuine, natural ways to beat a fungal sinus infection-And stop it from coming back. I know because I did it.
If you want to learn more about the book that taught me how to stop my sinus misery here is the link:
www.TheSinusInfectionCure.com
Check it out. The website is really hokey but the information is really great and thats what matters.
Preventing and Relieving Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a disease that can be tenacious as a stubborn dog. It is caused by a severe inflammation or the blocking of the air tubes in the lungs. Bronchitis generally occurs in two forms: acute or chronic. Acute bronchitis is the lesser condition of the two but it can still last for several weeks and may result in pneumonia if it is not taken care of right away. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, can eventually lead to more serious heart problems.
Bronchitis can be recognized by the following symptoms: frequent and painful cough with phlegm, high fever, sore throat, chest pain, harsh sounds when breathing and chills. Acute bronchitis is the common result of an infection like the flu or an untreated cold. Chronic bronchitis is usually caused by a lung irritant like cigarette smoke, allergies, dust and all other forms of air pollution.
You can take a number of vitamins to promote healing of bronchitis as well as preventing it. Vitamin A in large doses taken daily for up to 30 days can promote faster healing of irritated mucus membranes and strengthens the whole immune system. Vitamin C taken along with it can boost your immunity also and helps build up better collagen and mucus linings in the lungs. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that protects your lungs from air pollution. Zinc works with vitamin A to heal lung membranes and other tissues. An herb called astragalus taken daily in small doses can also help reduce symptoms associated with chronic bronchitis.
There are many things you can do to prevent the onset of bronchitis in any form. The most important thing to do is to stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Avoid pollution by staying indoors during smog alerts and refrain from using sprays for cleaning, insect repelling, or deodorizing. These contain a large number of potentially harmful ingredients that can weaken your lung tissues if used too often. If you are sensitive to dairy products, avoid them because they can increase mucus formation. When you notice the beginning of a cough, get plenty of rest and apply mild heat on your chest and back before going to bed. Drink at least eight to 10 glasses of clear water every day and eat foods that are high in vitamin A, C, E and zinc. Foods that are high in these nutrients including eggs, chicken, pecans, citrus fruits, sunflower seeds, broccoli, sardines and avocados.
It is a common mistake to take antihistamines, antibiotics, or decongestants for bronchitis. These drugs do not relieve inflamed windpipes and can even dry the mucus linings of the lungs. They can also make the mucus so thick that coughing can be very difficult and painful. Antibiotics don't usually help because most bronchitis is not caused by bacterial infections. Antibiotics hurt your chances of getting better by killing off friendly micro-organisms and making certain bacteria strains more antibiotic-resistant. A common herbal antidote for bronchitis is to try drinking half a cup of horehound tea three times a day. This can help to thin and release mucus that accumulates in the lungs of bronchitis patients.
Influenza Medicine Effectively Addresses the Underlying Causes and Treats the Symptoms of Swine Flu
The virus that causes swine flu is rapidly spreading all over the world and there is serious cause for concern that it could become an epidemic. Read on to know more about the symptoms of this life threatening disease and how it can be treated with Tamiflu.
Symptoms and causes of swine flu
Commonly known as swine flu, the H1N1 type A influenza is an infectious human disease that is easily contracted from other people. However, the disease was nicknamed so because the virus that causes it was originally passed on to humans from swine. This virus is a combination of genes from the bird, swine and human flu viruses. In the past, this disease generally affected people who came into direct contact with these animals. But the current outbreak of swine flu is said to be caused by a new breed of the swine flu virus and has been reported even amongst people who haven't had any kind of contact, direct or indirect, with swine.
Some of the common symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the regular influenza and include cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat, headache, body ache, fatigue and chills. Many people suffering from swine flu also experience symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Everyone who has had flu, experiences at least two of these common symptoms. However, the above mentioned symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. This means that your doctor will be unable to diagnose the disease on the basis of symptoms alone. Many healthcare professionals offer a quick swine flu test, but a negative result does not necessarily mean that you haven't got the disease. The accuracy of this test generally depends on the method of sample collection, the quality of the test, as well as the amount of the viral sample being tested.
Tamiflu UK
Tamiflu is a prescription medication and should be taken as per your doctor's recommendations. Tamiflu UK is available at any pharmacy near you. You can also visit online pharmacies or internet clinics that have a panel of doctors who will issue a Tamiflu prescription based on your symptoms and diagnosis. Buying Tamiflu online in the UK is an easy and convenient way of taking swine flu treatment.
Consisting of the active ingredient oseltamivir phosphate, Tamiflu is a prescription drug used in the treatment of influenza. Tamiflu targets this deadly virus and prevents it from spreading inside your body. Unlike other influenza drugs that only treat the symptoms, Tamiflu addresses the underlying causes of the disease by attacking the virus that actually causes it. Tamiflu can successfully treat this disease if it is taken as soon as the symptoms appear. It can also lower the risk of infection in people who have been exposed to an infected individual and thereby prevent a swine flu outbreak.
The initial recommended dose is a single 75mg pill twice a day for a period of 5 days. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dose on the basis of factors such as your age as well as the other medical conditions you suffer from (if any). If you are taking Tamiflu to prevent rather than treat influenza, the drug should be taken for at least 10 days. Tamiflu dosage for children will depend on their body weight. Tamiflu is a well tolerated treatment for swine flu as well as for the common flu. However, it cannot be a substitute for vaccination and should not be used as such.
What Is The Bird Flu
It started out as a natural influenza virus being carried naturally among wild birds which carry the viruses in their intestines, but usually do not get sick from them. However, bird flu is very contagious among birds and can make some domesticated birds, including chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick and kill them.
Avian influenza does not normally infect species other than birds and pigs. But humans came down with the bird flu in Hong Kong in 1997, when the H5N1 strain infected 18 humans, 6 of whom died.
What is the bird flu and why are we killing chickens?
More recently a virulent form of avian flu has swept through 10 countries in Asia, killing thousands of chickens and ducks and possibly wild birds as well. In four countries, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, the flu has also infected people, most of whom are believed to have had close contact with infected chickens. The governments in those countries have culled millions of birds in an effort to stop the spread.
Bird flu viruses do not usually infect humans, but more than 100 confirmed cases of human infection with bird flu viruses have occurred since 1997 according to the World Health Organisation.
The difference in this virus, known as H5N1, compared to human flu and pneumonia is that the avian form spreads through the body at a very fast rate and affects the lungs which quickly fill with fluid. Symptoms include: fever, sore throat, cough and, in several of the fatal cases, severe respiratory distress caused by viral pneumonia.
What is the bird flu and why do people think it will turn into a pandemic?
What has got health officials worried is that the H5N1 virus is able to mutate rapidly and picks up genetic material from viruses affecting other animals. There is then the very real possibility of wide scale human infection caused by a mutation of a new virus from people who are infected with both the bird flu and human influenza virus at the same time. The more birds that get infected, the greater the danger to people and the increased likelihood that a new 'super virus' could be formed.
If this occurs then the virus, like the common cold, could spread very rapidly and inflict a high mortality rate - particularly on the young, the elderly and people already sick.
What is the bird flu and is there a vaccine? While the Tamiflu vaccine may be effective against the bird flu virus, it is in short supply. The other MAJOR factor is that there is no guarantee that this vaccine will be effective against the mutated strain of the new virus and health officials advise that this could be many months away.
What is the bird flu and what can I do to protect myself?
Best advice is to avoid the possibility of exposure and to boost your immune system by eating a healthy diet (more omega 3 fatty acids, less sugar, fried foods and omega 6 to begin)and by supplementing with nutrients known to improve the function of the immune system - such as Selenium and Vitamins A, C and E.
Summary
The bird flu or H5N1 virus occurs naturally in wild birds and may be spread to domesticated fowls and pigs. Recently there have human infections in several countries in Asia as a result of contact with infected birds and pigs. The virus reads through the human boy very rapidly and affects the lungs, which fill with fluid. Health officials are concerned about the possibility of widespread human contamination resulting in a new and very deadly virus that would spread easily between humans ands inflict a high mortality rate. While there is a vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu virus, it is in short supply and ay not offer any resistance to a new bird flu virus. Antioxidant supplements are very effective in boosting the immune system d provide some natural protection against the virus
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