Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Signs and Symptoms

 

Tuberculosis (TB) infection:

1. Mild cough (sometimes).

2. You may have an infection even if you have no symptoms at all.

TB disease:

1. Coughing, sometimes with bloody mucus.

2. Chest pain.

3. Slight fever.

4. Weight loss and fatigue.

5. Night sweats.

What to Do Now

 

If you have the disease, it’s important to get regular medical attention and to follow a doctor’s advice closely.

When to Call A Doctor

 

1. If you suspect you have been exposed to tuberculosis for a long period.

2. If you have symptoms of the disease.

3. If you are receiving treatment for TB and new, unexpected symptoms develop.

How to Prevent It

 

1. Most people are not at risk of getting TB, so they needn’t take any special measures.

2. If you are in any of the following high-risk groups, however, talk with your doctor about screenings, prevention, or a preventive vaccine (the vaccine is not 100 percent effective):

3. If you are HIV positive.

4. If you have spent a long time with some one who has the disease, or you work in a place such as a homeless shelter, a hospital, or a residential care facility.

5. If you are an intravenous drug user.

6. If there has been TB in their school, your children should be tested.

7. If you have spent a long time in crowded conditions in a country where tuberculosis is known to be prevalent.

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Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis

Signs and Symptoms

 

Mild cases:

1. Sore or dry throat.

2. An increasingly hoarse or “throaty” voice.

Severe cases:

1. Tonsils so swollen that they fill the back of the throat.

2. Tonsils that are red or have white or yellow spots.

3. Tender or swollen lymph glands in the neck.

4. Fever of 100 degrees or higher, headache, or vomiting.

5. Ear or stomach pain.

In children:

Refusal to eat because swallowing is painful.

In Adults:

Foul-smelling white debris and a burning sensation in the back of the throat.

What to Do Now

 

1. If your child’s tonsils are simply red (there’s no swelling or white or yellow coating) and he or she does not have a fever or any problems swallowing, you can usually get good results with home treatment.

2. Use a saltwater gargle to help dull the pain and cleanse infected tonsils.

3. Keep your child warm and rested.

4. Give lots of liquids, along with ice cream or frozen yogurt, to soother the throat.

5. Give acetaminophen for fever and pain. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who has chicken pox, flu, or any other illness you suspect of being caused by a virus).

6. Sponge the face with cool water to reduce fever.

When to Call a Doctor

 

1. If your child has a fever above 100 degrees or goes 24 hours without eating.

2. If the tonsils have a white or yellow coating or spots on them. (Use a flashlight to look at them).

3. If the tonsils are so swollen that they are touching; this may mean a serious infection such as strep.

4. If a sore throat is severe and lasts more than two days.

5. If your child has greenish, yellowish, or rusty-colored mucus or experiences nausea, skin rashes, chest pain, convulsions, inflamed or painful joints, or a fever that returns after being absent for a day or two. These may signal an infection in the tonsils or elsewhere.

In adults:

If you have difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth, and excruciating pain in your throat or jaw.

How to Prevent It

 

1. Encourage children to avoid bacteria

and Viruses by:

2. Washing their hands frequently.

3. Keeping their hands away from their mouths.

4. Moving away from people who are coughing and sneezing.

5. Not sharing cups or silverware.

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Swallowing Difficulty

Swallowing Difficulty

Signs and Symptoms

 

1. Pain or serious discomfort while swallowing.

2. Trouble getting food to go down.

 

What to Do Now

 

1. For the sensation of a lump in the throat, drink lots of water with meals and practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress.

2. For burning pain in the throat or a feeling of heartburn, take antacids.

When to Call a Doctor

 

1. If something is caught in your throat.

If you suspect you have tonsillitis.

2. If you have swallowing difficulties that last for more than a few days, or if they are combined with weight loss and vomiting.

3. If you can swallow food or drink yet still feel as if you have a lump in your throat, even after trying relaxation techniques.

How to Prevent It

 

1. Avoid spicy foods and alcohol, which can worsen heartburn.

2. Do not smoke; if you do, quit. Smoking can cause oral cancer and problems of the esophagus.

3. Take antacids to neutralizes stomach acid or acid blockers to prevent stomach acid production.

4. If you are overweight, losing weight may reduce the swallowing difficulties and heartburn.

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Sore Throat

Sore Throat

Signs and Symptoms

 

1. Pain when talking or swallowing.

2. Throat that looks red all over or in streaks when you open wide and say “Aahhh”.

3. Swollen, tender glands in the upper neck.

Sometimes:

1. Fever.

2. Headache.

3. Earache.

Strep throat:

Sore throat that comes on suddenly, accompanied by fever, swollen neck glands, headache, or bright red tonsils.

Mononucleosis:

Same symptoms as strep throat, plus debilitating fatigue and loss of appetite.

 

What to Do Now

 

1. Drink lots of liquids, preferably warm ones such as soup or herbal tea.

2. Gargle with warm salt water.

3. Don’t smoke, and keep away from people when they’re smoking.

4. Take a nonaspirin pain reliever to ease pain and inflammation. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who has chicken pox, flu, or any other illness you suspect of being caused by a virus).

5. Use a vaporizer or humidifier to moisten bedroom air.

6. Suck on throat lozenges or cough drops to keep your throat moist.

7. Don’t ask your doctor for an antibiotic unless you have strep or another bacterial infection- it won’t against a virus.

When to Call A Doctor

 

Go to an emergency facility immediately:

1. If you have fever over 101 degrees.

2. If the glands in your neck are swollen. If you cannot swallow liquids or you have trouble breathing.

3. If your tonsils are bright red or have spots of white pus on them.

4. If your sore throat lasts longer than the five-to-seven-day span typical cold.

 

How to Prevent It

 

Avoid cigarette smoke and other irritants. Stay away from people who have strep throat or a sore throat.

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Sinusitis

Sinusitis

Signs and Symptoms

 

Acute sinusitis:

1. Stuffy nose and trouble breathing, especially when a cold lasts longer than a week.

2. Green or yellow nasal discharge, sometimes tinged with blood. It may drip into the back of your throat, making you cough.

3. Pain or pressure in or around the eyes and forehead. The pain may travel to the back of your head and be worse in the morning or when you’re leaning forward.

4. A foul smell in your nose and/or bad breath.

Sometimes:

1. Fever.

2. Pain in the upper jaw.

Chronic sinusitis:

Nasal discharge and sinus congestion that persist or recur over a period of months.

What to Do Now

 

1. Drink plenty of liquids- at least eight to ten glasses a day.

2. Inhale steam for temporary relief from clogged sinuses. Take a hot shower or place warm, damp cloth over your nose.

3. Try oral decongestants or nasal decongestant sprays. They help you breathe more easily, but they should not be used for more than two days without consulting a doctor, because their “rebound effect” can make symptoms worse.

4. Flushing your nose with salt water can help wash away mucus and bacteria.

When to Call A Doctor

 

1. If facial swelling occurs or vision is blurry; you may have a dangerous infection.

2. If symptoms last more than seven days without improvement; it’s important to get medical attention.

3. If a bacterial sinus infection goes untreated, it can persist for years, causing chronic pain.

4. Continued postnasal drip of infected mucus can lead to bronchitis, chronic cough, or asthma.

How to Prevent It

 

1. Since sinusitis generally follows problems like allergies, colds, or the flu, it’s important to treat those conditions before sinusitis can develop.

2. If you have allergies, learn what triggers them so you can manage your condition.

3. Avoid smoky or polluted environments. If you smoke, quit.

4. Sleep with your head elevated to help your sinuses drain.

5. Don’t blow your nose too hard.

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Pneumonia

Pneumonia

Signs and Symptoms

 

Common:

1. Shortness of breath.

2. Shaking, chills, and fever as high as 105 degrees.

3. Mucus that is greenish, greenish yellow, rust-colored, or streaked with blood.

4. Chest pain.

Sometimes:

1. Sweating, rapid pulse, and rapid breathing

2. Bluish lips and nails.

3. Diarrhea, headache, or pain in the muscles.

4. Delirium.

5. Vomiting.

What to Do Now

 

1. Tiredness and congestion that can linger without sending you to bed - to more serious cases that require immediate hospitalization. Call a doctor for an immediate appointment if you think you have any from of the illness. In addition:

2. Drink lots of fluids.

3. Avoid cough suppressants if you have a wet cough: Coughing up mucus will help you recover.

4. Put hot compresses on your chest to make yourself more comfortable.

5. Avoid smoking and smoky places.

6. To prevent a relapse, which can be more serious than the first bout, be sure to take all the medicine you doctor prescribes especially antibiotics.

7. Try using a cool-mist humidifier in your bedroom. Clean it daily, and fill it only with distilled water.

When to Call a Doctor

 

1. Pneumonia often comes on the course of another respiratory illness, such as a cold. Call for an immediate appointment if you have been sick and these symptoms appear

2. Change in color of mucus, or appearance of mucus streaked with blood.

3. Persistent fever over 100 degrees, accompanied by chills or sweats.

4. Shortness of breath or pain when breathing.

5. If the recently ill person is in a high-risk category (very young, over 65, or someone with a chronic condition), be on guard for the first signs of pneumonia and arrange for prompt medical attention.

How to Prevent It

 

1. If you are in a high-risk group, talk to your doctor about getting a vaccination for bacterial pneumonia as well as a yearly flu shot. Also: Eat healthfully. Emphasize fruits, vegetables, and grains in your diet. Plant-based foods are high in vitamins and fiber; they provide a lot of nutrients without much fat, and the fiver helps speed toxins out of the body. Plants also contain many chemicals that help boost the body’s immune system.

2. Avoid smoking, smoke-filled rooms, and heavy drinking: These all weaken your ability to fight off infection.

3. Avoid close contact with people who have respiratory infections.

4. Exercise several times a week. Regular physical effort and movement not only increase your energy and strength, they build your body’s resistance to colds and flu.

5. If you’re bedridden, try to sit up for one or two hours after eating to avoid inhaling food particles, which can lead to developing pneumonia.

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Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer

Signs and Symptoms

 

Lung cancer typically has no symptoms in its early stage. By the time a tumor has grown large enough to cause symptoms, it’s often in an advanced stage. The, symptoms include:

1. Shortness of breath; wheezing; dull, persistent chest pain or intermittent, sharp chest pain.

2. Hoarseness.

3. An increase in a chronic, hacking “smoker’s cough,” sometimes accompanied by blood-streaked mucus. These are often the first sigms.

4. Recurring bronchitis- an inflammation of the main air passages in the lungs.

5. Pain and weakness in the shoulder, arm, or hand.

6. Weight loss or loss of appetite and Persistent low fever.

What to Do Now

 

1. Lung cancer is not something you can treat yourself. But once it is diagnosed, the doctor will work with you to decide which treatment- chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or a combination- is best for you.

2. There is much you can do to improve your chances of recovery and to stay active during treatment.

3. Consult with a doctor to show you exercises that strengthen you chest muscles.

4. Emotional support seems to aid in recovery.

5. Practice good general health habits.

When to Call A Doctor

 

Call for an immediate appointment if you have any symptoms. Early detection is the key to successful treatment of lung cancer.

How to Prevent It

 

1. Don’t smoke. Even long-term smokers improve their chances of avoiding lung cancer by quitting. Quitting smoking will not only reduce your risk of getting lung cancer, it will reduce the risk for those close to you; the spouses of smokers have at least a 30 percent higher risk of getting lung cancer  from secondhand smoke than do the spouses of nonsmokers.

2. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

3. Reduce stress through relaxation, visualization, meditation, or yoga.

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Flu

Flu

Signs and Symptoms

 

1. Chills and a fever over 103 degrees.

2. Weakness and fatigue.

3. Headache and eye pain.

4. Sore throat.

5. Dry cough.

6. Muscle aches.

What to do now

 

1. The more rest you get, the sooner you’ll get well. And staying home lessens the risks of infecting people at school or work; Flu continues to be contagious for three or four days after symptoms appear.

To recover quickly:

1. Drink as much fluids - juice, water and hottea - as you can. Have chicken soup; the heat may relieve the feeling of congestion.

2. Take an aspirin substitute for aches and fever to a child under 12 who has flu, chicken pox, or any other illness you suspect of being caused by a virus. Avoid cold medicines designed to treat more than one symptom.

When to call a doctor

 

1. Flus are particularly dangerous for people with chronic illness, including respiratory, heart, cancer; diabetes; or kidney disease; cystic fibrosis; or recurring anemia. If you have one of these conditions- or if you are HIV positive- call your doctor at the first appearance of flu symptoms. Drugs can treat certain flu viruses and may help the elderly or chronically ill.

2. If you have a recurring fever or chest pain, or if you cough up thick, discolored, or bloody mucus; you may be developing pneumonia or bronchitis.

3. If you have an earache, facial swelling, drainage from your ear, or severe pain in your face or forehead. These may indicate another illness, such as sinusitis or an ear infection.

4. If your fever lasts more than three to four days or is higher than 102 degrees.

How to prevent it

 

1. Because flu viruses mutate from year to year, it’s impossible to develop immunity. To avoid infection or lessen the severity, get a flu shot each fall - particularly if you’re over 65 or you have a chronic health problem.

2. If you are pregnant, you should consult a doctor before getting flu shot.

3. If you are allergic to eggs, or think you are, consult a doctor about whether or not to be vaccinated.

4. The flu virus is spread in the spray from coughs and sneezes, so keeping a distance from people who have the flu may lessen your chances of infection.
Wash your hands frequently to reduce your risk of catching a cold or the flu.

5. Avoid secondhand cigarette smoke, and if you smoke, quit.

6. Keep your immune system healthy by following a good diet, getting adequate sleep, keeping stress levels low, and drinking lots of water.

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Cold (health)

Cold (health)

Signs and Symptoms

1. Runny nose.

2. Watery eyes.

3. Coughing.

4. Sore throat.

5. Hoarseness.

6. Low fever.

What to do now

There is no cure for the common cold, but there are things you can do to lessen your discomfort:

1. Stay home, don’t go to work or school for the first three of four days- not only to rest and recover, but also to prevent spreading your cold to other people.

2. Take an aspirin substitute for aches and fever. (Never give aspirin to a child under 12 who has a cold, chicken pox, flu, or any other illness you suspect of being caused by a virus).

3. If you have a sore throat, try gargling with salt water a few times a day.

4. Drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.

5. Use over-the-counter saline nose drops to clear up a stuffy nose.

6. Avoid smoking and smoky places.

7. Taking one 500-milligram tablet of vitamin C four times a day may lessen the discomfort and duration of your cold, according to some researchers. But be aware that taking too much vitamin C over long periods of time can cause severe diarrhea.

When to call a doctor

1. If you have a fever of 100 degrees or higher and facial swelling and/or severe pain in the ears; you have a dangerous ear infection.

2. If your throat begins to hurt severely and your tonsils or throat have a white or yelow coating; you have tonsillitis or strep throat.

3. If you have a severe cough with thick, discolored mucus; a cough that lasts more than ten days; or blush lips or nails. You many have pneumonia.

4. If a fever lasts longer than four days or you have a fever of more than 102 degrees.

5. If you have a headache accompanied by pain around the face, a supersensitive upper jaw, or green or yellow mucus coming from your nose or throat; these are signs of bacterial infection in the sinuses.

6. If your cold hasn’t improved after ten days or has gotten steadily worse.

How to prevent it

1. Since cold viruses can be transmitted through handshakes and can lurk on doorknobs and counters, wash your hands often, especially during cold season. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.

2. Drink lots of fluids.

3. Move away from people who are coughing and sneezing.

4. Since stress, allergies, and menstrual cycles may make you vulnerable to infection, try to rest more and take good care of yourself.

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Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema

Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema

Signs and Symptoms

 

Chronic bronchitis:

1. Usually begins with “smoker’s cough”- a regular morning cough that bring up mucus.

2. As the disease progresses, coughing becomes more persistent and you find yourself short of breath.

3. In the final stages, coughing and wheezing are almost nonstop.

Emphysema:

1. In the early stages, there may be no symptoms.

Later symptoms include:

1. A persistent, dry cough.

2. Shortness of breath: at first, only with exertion; later, with any physical activity.

3. In the late stages, the chest may become distended and barrel-shaped from air trapped inside lungs.

4. Weight loss.

5. Recurring infections of the lungs.

What to do now

 

1. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is by far the main cause of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. But studies show that giving up tobacco - even after symptoms appear- can greatly slow lung damage.

2. Get an annual flu shot and a vaccination against pneumonia.
Stay inside if the air is unusually polluted, and avoid smoky places.

3. Exercise moderately but regularly in good-quality air.

4. Take good care of yourself, and if you get a lung infection, have it promptly treated.

When to call a doctor

 

1. If you have a lasting, mild cough that doesn’t go away for months.

2. If you regularly become breathless after mild exertion, such as climbing a flight of stairs.

How to prevent it

 

1. Don’t smoke.

2. Treat bronchitis promptly to guard against.

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Asthma

Asthma

Signs and Symptoms

 

Moderate asthma attack:

1. Wheezing or whistling sounds with breathing.

2. Tension in the chest.

3.Shortness of breath.

4.Coughing, especially at night.

Severe attack:

1. Breathing becomes very difficult that you sweat.

2. A racing pulse.

3. Fear.

What to do now

 

1. Try to remain calm and quiet.

2. Nervousness makes the symptoms worse.

3. Don’t lie down. Breathing is easier when sat upright and lean forward slightly.

4. Keep medicines prescribed by the doctor within your reach. They may include a bronchodilator - a spray drug to open your airways- in an inhaler that controls the dose. Rinse your mouth with water each time you use it to prevent yeast infections in the mouth.

5. If you’re using oral medications, follow the instructions exactly. Also, write down the time you take each dose; Overdoses can be dangerous.

When to call a doctor

 

If you note the following signs of a lack of oxygen:

1. feeling of suffocation that makes talking difficult.

2. Flaring nostrils.

3. A sucked-in look to the skin between the ribs when inhaling.
Bluish lips and nails.

4. If your asthma medicine doesn’t work within the time it’s supposed to.

5. If you cough up yellow, green, or bloody mucus.

6. If you feel new, unexplained symptoms. These may be side effects of your drugs or many mean you asthma is getting worse.

How to prevent it

 

1. Anyone with asthma should be under a doctor’s care. Learning to read a peak flow meter can help. It measures airflow and can give early warning of a coming attack. If your doctor prescribes then, you can use an inhaler for corticosteroids to reduce your bronchial swelling. Also: keep a diary of attacks: What happened just before? How severe? How frequent?

2. Notice whether certain foods or drugs seem to bring on an attack, and avoid them.

3. Stay away from smoke and smokers. If you smoke, quit.

4. Stay indoors, if possible, when air pollution and pollen counts are high.

5. Keep your house as dust-free as possible.

6. In cold weather, breathe through your nose and cover your nose and mouth with a scarf.

7. Get bedding that is made of non allergenic materials.

8. Don’t maintian pets that have hair or fur.

9. Exercise regularly but moderately. Many doctors recommend swimming- unless you react badly to chlorine-because humidity helps ease breathing. If vigorous exercise sets off an attack, report it to a doctor.

10. Try yoga. It can help relax you.

11. Lower your risk of colds and flu by washing your hands often and by getting a flu shot every year.

12. If you can afford buy an air-filtering machine for your bedroom.

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Allergies

Allergies

Signs and Symptoms

 

Food allergies:

1. Stomachache and/or frequent indigestion.

2. Outbreaks of irritated, itchy, red, or bumpy skin.

Drug allergies:

1. Outbreaks of irritated, itchy, red, or bumpy skin,sometimes accompanied by flulike symptoms such as low fever, headache, and joint pain.

Allergic asthma:

1. Sneezing, wheezing, and coughing.

2. In some cases, difficulty in breathing.

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis, a respiratory allergy):

1. Frequent sneezing.

2. Runny or stuffy nose.

3. Itchy or watery eyes.

4. Itching in back of throat or on roof of mouth.

What to do now

 

1. Avoid tobacco smoke and insect sprays, and stay inside on days with high pollution levels.

2. If you’re allergic to pollen, stay indoors on days with high pollen counts.

3. If you’re allergic to insect sting or have severe reactions to specific foods, ask your doctor for an emergency kit with antihistamines and an adrenaline shot. Always carry the kit with you.

4. If you frequently have itchy or watery eyes, ask you doctor about a prescription for antihistamine eye drops.

5. If you have hay fever, try various over-the-counter antihistamines and keep track of which ones work best. Don’t combine antihistamines with prescription medications or other over-the-counter drugs without checking with your doctor or pharmacist. Note: Phenylpropanolamine-found in some decongestants - has in rare cases been linked to stroke. Use decongestants containing pseudo ephedrine instead).

When to call a doctor

 

Go to an emergency facility immediately:

1. If you have violent stomach cramps, vomiting, bloating, or diarrhea. This could signal a serious reaction to a food.

2. If you have recurring allergies. An allergy specialist can test you to find out what you’re allergic to.

3. If your breathing becomes extremely difficult or painful. You many be having an attack of asthma.

4. If you develop a rapid heartbeat and skin welts along with flushing, itching, dizziness, and trouble breathing. You could be having a dangerous and potentially fatal reaction called anaphylactic shock.

How to prevent it

 

1. Learn what you’re allergic to, and avoid it.

2. If you’re allergic to a commonly used drug such as penicillin, wear a medical alert tag or bracelet.

3. If you’re allergic to cats or dogs, stay away from them- or at least see that your pets are bathed frequently and keep them out of your bedroom.

4. If you’re allergic to molds, keep your house clean and dry, particularly these key spots: bathrooms, refrigerator drip trays, and closets.

5. If you sneeze and cough year-round, you may be among the millions of people who are allergic to dust mites (microscopic, spider like bugs that live in house dust). Try to keep you house- particularly your bedrooms-as dust-free as possible. Encase mattresses in plastic covers’ wash your bedding weekly in hot water; and avoid carpet, upholstered furniture, and other dust-catchers. Also, vacuum regularly (use a nonporous bag) or, better  yet, have someone else do it.

6. If you have a severe food allergy, read package labels carefully. When dining out, be particularly careful to ask about ingredients.

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