Noroviruses - which can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting - are highly contagious. Thus outbreaks typically occur in crowded environments such as resorts, daycare facilities, hospitals, cruise ships or nursing homes. The infection can be spread by close contact with an infected person - who may or may not have symptoms - or via food or drink that has been contaminated by an infected person or animal.
Most people infected with norovirus become ill within 24 to 48 hours and recover within three days after becoming ill. However, in some cases infected persons may suffer from more severe diarrhea and vomiting, and may be sick up to five or six days. In such cases it is very impotant that the person drink plenty of fluids in order to remain hydrated. Remember that sodas, sugary drinks and caffeinated beverages do not help a person hydrate and can, in fact, lead to more frequent urination that contributes to dehydration.
Are you always the unlucky one in your family or group of friends who seems to get waylaid by a cold — again and again? Why me — you ask yourself. Well, here’s an interesting article that takes a look at the various factors that make you more vulnerable to getting a cold. It’s a combination of factors, really. Your genetics, your past exposure to various cold viruses and the luck of the draw — were you in the wrong place at the wrong time and grabbed a shopping cart just used by someone with not-so-good nasal hygiene?
You might also like to take a look at a slightly older article on the link between immunity and exercise. Researchers found that people who exercised five days a week for at least 20 minutes had 40 percent fewer days of illness compared to those who only exercised one day (or less) each week. Yes exercise just keeps racking up the benefits — but keep in mind that genetics and being next to one good sneeze can still send the sniffles your way.
When people feel miserable with a cold, flu, cough, runny nose or sore throat, they often hope for antibiotics to make them feel better and get well. The problem is, antibiotics don’t work for these conditions. Why? Because they are viral infections and antibiotics are only effective on bacterial infections.
For example, except in rare cases, bronchitis is caused by a virus and not treated with antibiotics. Sinus infections are also usually viral, but acute bacterial sinusitis is caused by bacteria and should be treated with an antibiotic.
Physicians have become ever more vigilant about prescribing antibiotics because over the years bacteria have developed resistances to antibiotics. When you take antibiotics, most of the bacteria are killed. However, some resistant germs may be left behind. Over time, they can multiply. As bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics we find that illnesses can last longer, may become more severe, can result in hospital stays and may require more expensive and complex medications.
For more information on the use and overuse of antibiotics, visit www.cdc.gov/getsmart/index.html.
This year, there’s been an increase in cases of persistent coughing and sinusitis. Are the two related? They can be. Coughing is a defense mechanism - it’s how your body removes irritants such as bacteria, viruses, pollutants, mucus or postnasal drip, from your lungs and upper respiratory tract.
Just what happens when you cough? A recent article in the Washington post provides a great interactive diagram of the anatomy of a cough. Basically, irritants in your throat or mucus in your lungs stimulate your nerves and send a message to your brain indicating the need to cough. Your body reacts with an intake of breath, the glottis above your voice box temporarily closes, your chest muscles contract and you forcibly cough - expelling air through the open glottis and out your mouth.
Feeling stuffed up? Have headaches, cough at night, a recurring sore throat or pressure in your face? What you think is a cold or allergies may be chronic sinusitis — inflammation of the sinus passages caused by fungal, bacterial or viral infections. View this health video from CNN. It gives a great overview of the condition, as well as treatment options.
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