Seasonal influenza vaccine

seasonal influenza vaccine

Influenza, or flu, is a disease caused by the influenza virus. It is very contagious disease which can be spread by sneezing, coughing, and nasal secretions. Everyone can get influenza, but mostly it affects children. For most people, influenza symptoms last only a few day. 

Symptoms of seasonal influenza
Symptoms of common flu are not specific, it can mimick another viral infections. The symptoms include:

• Chills/fever
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Runny nose

Why people should get seasonal influenza vaccine

People with decreased immune functions, such as young children, elderly, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions such as heart, lung, or kidney disease, can get much sicker. Seasonal influenza can cause high fever and continue to pnemonia and will harm the existing medical conditions. In children, seasonal influenza can cause diarrhea and fever associated seizure. Sometimes some people need hospitalization.By getting seasonal influenza vaccine you can protect yourself from seasonal influenza and may also avoid spreading seasonal influenza to others.

When to get seasonal influenza vaccine

• Get the vaccine as soon as possible. It will protect you from influenza. You can get the vaccine as long as illness is occuring in your community.
• Influenza mostly occurs from October through May. In recent seasons, most infections have occured in January and February. So if you get the vaccine in December, it will still be beneficial in most years.
• Older children and adults need one dose of influenza vaccine annualy. Younger children (less than 9 years) may need two doses to be protected.
• The vaccine may be given at the same time with other vaccine. It is safe.

How to fight seasonal influenza?

CDC urges us to take these steps to protect ourself and others from the seasonal influenza:

1. Get vaccinated against flu. It's a best defense.
2. Cover your cough, wash hands often.
3. Take antiviral drugs as doctor recommends you.

For more information about seasonal influenza vaccine by age group in the United States, you can go here.

Source: CDC

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Steven Johnson Syndrome Symptoms

steven johnson syndrome symptoms 

In the previous article (click here), we have talked about Steven Johnson syndrome. For you who have asked about the symptoms, now we make a resume about it.

Here are Steven Johnson Syndrome symptoms as quoted from Mayo Clinic:

1. Flu-like symptoms: fever, sore throat, cough, etc.
2. Lip swelling
3. Facial swelling
4. Tongue swelling
5. Skin pain
6. Hives
7. Skin rash (red or purple) that spreads in hours to days
8. Skin blisters especially around the nose, mouth, and eye.
9. Sloughing of the skin
10. Conjunctivitis

Please contact your doctor if the symptoms persists more than one day. Proper treatment is needed because Steven Johnson syndrome is a life-threatening condition.

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Sore Throat Allergies Symptoms

sore throat allergies symptoms

Allergies may be the cause of a sore throat. Some people have mistakes in using the term "sore throat" to refer many different things. But sore throat is actually the synonym of pharyngitis that means inflammation of the throat. Most cases are caused by bacterial infection such as streptococcus (strep throat) or mononucleosis.

Sore throat allergies symptoms are nearly similar with the general symptoms of sore throat such as:

• The most characteristic of sore throat allergic symptoms: post nasal drips
• Dry and irritated throat
• Nasal congestion
• Mild fever (not always)
• Painful in swallowing
• Tenderness in the throat, tonsils, and neck's lymph nodes.
• Body aches, muscular pain

Treatment of sore throat allergies

• Use humidifier to prevent a dry environment that can worsen your sore throat allergies symptoms
• Use lozenges to soothe the throat
• Use salted water to gargle (avoid using mouthwash since it will irritate your throat)
• Find the exact cause of your sore throat allergies. If it is a seasonal allergy, nasal spray containing antihistamines may help.
• Use antibiotics under doctor's advice. 

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Food Allergy Test

food allergy test

Food allergy is an immune system reaction that happens directly after eating an allergen. The immune system reaction is variable between persons, from mild to severe and may be life-threatening known as anaphylaxis reaction. Food allergy is different with food intolerance while food intolerance is likely unserious condition that does not involve the immune system. To confirm the diagnosis of food allergy, you have to take food allergy test.

Food allergy symptoms

The symptoms of food allergy may be mild and severe. The symptoms can happen even the first time ingestion of food and develop between minutes to hours. The most common mild symptoms are:

• Itchy mouth
• Skin eczema
• Tissue swelling in many body parts: mouth, face, throat, tongue, etc.
• Difficulty in breathing, wheezing, nasal congestion
• Nausea, vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Syncope, dizziness, headache.

Severe symptoms that can be life threatening is called anaphylaxis reaction. Please pay attention to these:

• Tightening of airways, very difficult to breathe caused by a swollen throat
• Shock, known by severe hypotension.
• Tachycardia, or rapid pulse
• Symptoms of brain ischemia, can be dizziness until loss of consciousness.

Food allergy test

There is no standard rule of food allergy test. According to Mayo Clinic, there are some diagnostic options that doctors may do to determine if you're allergic to a food or if your symptoms are caused by another.

• Specific description of the symptoms. Tell your doctor specifically about what food that seem to cause allergy, how much you ate, and if you or your family have history to food allergy or another allergies.
• Physical examination.
• Food diary. Your doctor may ask you to make a food diary about your eating habit and symptoms related to it.
• Blood test. It does not work for every possible allergen. The test used to detect IgE antibodies in certain allergen, called RAST, or Radio AllergoSorben Test. The score from RAST will be compared to known predictive value. If the score is higher, it is more likely that the allergy is present in that person. RAST can test many allergens simultaneously.
• Skin prick test. It can determine your reaction to a specific food. If you have allergy to a particular food being tested, you will have a raised reaction or bump. Remember that a positive reaction to this test alone is not enough to confirm the diagnosis of food allergy.
• Food challenge test. This test must be done in the hospital. The suspected allergen will be given to the person to be directly ingested. Doctor will look for signs and symptoms of food allergy. \

Food allergy treatment

In case of food allergy, the best way is avoiding the particular food. But you may still experience some symptoms, here are the food allergy remedies:

• Mild reaction: you can buy OTC drugs (antihistamines) to reduce symptoms. Take this drugs after exposure to relieve itching and nausea-vomiting. However, antihistamines alone can not treat severe reaction of food allergy.
• Severe reaction: all you have to do is going to the emergency room. Doctor will give you an emergency epinephrine injected under your skin. The next time you may visit the doctor to consult about the food allergy and he may give you an epinephrine autoinjector (EpiPen, TwinJect). You have to bring it all the time.

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Asthma Signs And Symptoms In Children

Asthma Signs And Symptoms In Children

Asthma is a chronic disease that attacks the respiratory tract called bronchial in the lung where there is inflammation process happened in the bronchial cavity wall. The result of inflammation process is airway constriction so the patients experience shortness of breath. Asthma is one of the most prevalent disease in developed countries, especially areas with high level of air pollution.

Asthma Signs and Symptoms in Children
Until now, the cause of asthma is unknown despite a lot of reseearches has been done by the experts. Theories how do you get asthma has not been agreed upon by experts around the world. But there is a similarity between asthmatic patients, that they have a bronchial hypersensitivity. Treatment type from physicians for asthma  condition depends on their severity. Physician need to understand the asthma pathophysiology so that patient is get appropriate treatment. The followings are factors that are believed as asthma cause/risk factors and therefore can trigger asthma attack:

1. Hereditary factors. Genetic factors are quite significant. 
2. Allergenic substances, such as wool, fibers, carpet, pollen, animal hair, etc. (allergy asthma).
3. Household insects, especially cockroaches. Dead cockroaches dry and crush into powder which is very light to be floated by the air.
4. Air pollution, from cigarette smoking (as passive smokers), factory smoke, etc.
5. Exercise, especially vigorous ones like running race, soccer that is excessive enough to trigger asthma.
6. Weather. Cold air and air conditioning are also stimulants for some patients.

Asthma signs and symptoms in children :

1. Shortness of breath due to narrowing of airway
2. Respiratory sounds (wheezing), especially while exhaling. But not all asthmatics have respiratory sounds!
3. Prolonged cough at night and cold weather 
4. Severe attack can cause the patients unable to speak
5. Some patients also experience narrowing chest.
6. On children, initial symptoms can include itching in neck or chest.
7. During asthma attack, patients' anxiety can worsen their condition. They sometimes look very sweaty.
8. Treatments

Asthma signs and symptoms in children, just like in adults is a disease that cannot be treated completely. This means, there are still some possibilities that asthma attacks can occur in the future Basic principles of asthma treatment are based on severity of signs and symptoms. Treatments of asthma, the principle therapies are extra oxygen, nebulizer gas, corticosteroids injection (intravenously administration), and cough relievers.
For asthmatics, it is very recommended to take the prescribed medicines regularly, always bring nebulizer, and avoid the risk factors to prevent asthma attacks.

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