Canon in D Major by Pachelbel

Swine Flu

Flu virus

Flu, also known as Influenza, is an acute respiratory infection that is caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu usually occurs in outbreaks. If the extent of flu outbreak is larger, health care organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) may call it epidemic or pandemic.

Swine flu is caused by type A influenza virus that usually causes outbreaks in pigs. Nonetheless, there is recent evidence that swine flu transmits from person to person. However, you cannot catch swine flu by eating cooked pork.

Flu infection is transmitted through coughing, sneezing since large amounts of virus are present in respiratory secretions.

Flu outbreak usually occurs in winter. Prominent symptoms of flu are fever, muscle ache, headache, coughing, weakness.

Flu is usually self-limited, gradually improving over 2 to 5 days. Flu, however, may result in complications. Common complications of flu are pneumonia, and myositis that is associated with extreme tenderness of legs. Guillain-Barre syndrome, an acute inflammation of multiple nerves, is also suspected to be a complication of flu; but a definite causal relationship has not been established.

Doctors usually diagnose flu based on symptoms, signs, the existence of outbreaks. They may also order throat, nasal swabs, or Quick Vue A+B tests.

Doctors may prescribe Oseltamivir or Zanamivir to alleviate flu symptoms, to help you recover faster, or to prevent flu.

You may be able to find more information about swine flu at following CDC link.
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

Scarborough Fair by Sarah Brightman

Prevention of Running Leg Injuries

Running helps to promote healthy heart, reduce obesity and osteoporosis. Running also helps enhance mental health. Running, however, also increases risk of injuries to hips, knees and feet. Most of running injuries are insidious and are not neccessarily associated with specific trauma.

There are several things you should do or not do to prevent leg injuries.

Do:

• Stretch before and after running: even though a meta-analysis study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was inconclusive as to the real benefit of routine stretching, many runners have found it helpful
• Make sure shoes are fitting every time you buy new pairs since feet widens with age
• Change running shoes every 350 to 500 miles since new shoes lose 40 percent of cushioning after that much distance
• Use orthoses if you have excessive pronation, patellofemoral pain, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, or Achilles tendinitis
• Use ankle braces if you have prior ankle injuries
• Rest completely from running during injuries

Don't:

• Run persistently 40 miles or more per week since it is the most important risk of injury.

The Last of the Mohicans by Hans Zimmer

Septic Lateral Sinus Thrombosis

Septic Lateral Sinus Thrombosis (SLST) is associated with mastoiditis, which is a complication of otitis media. Inflicted patients usually have following symptoms for several weeks before diagnosis is made.

• Fever
• Headache on the side of the ear infection
• Nausea and/or vomitting
• Vertigo
• Photophobia (fear and avoidance of lighting)
• Neck stiffness

Doctors usually suspect SLST when they see evidence of otitis media, along with the swelling of the area that is immediately behind the affected outer ear. The existence of sixth nerve dysfunction even raises strong suspicion of SLST. An MRI will help make the diagnosis of SLST.

MRI shows lateral sinus thrombosis on the left side

Initial treatment requires immediate IV antibiotic therapy that is a combination of ceftriaxone, metronidazole, and vancomycin. Doctors may adjust antibiotics in accordance with other available laboratory results.

If inflicted patients still have fever within 12-24 hours following the initiation of appropriate antibiotics, doctors usually proceed with radical mastoidectomy with drainage of pus and infected fluid.

Dust in the Wind by Kansas

Acute Otitis Media

Acute Otitis Media (AOM) refers to the presence of fluid in the middle ear and symptoms or signs of inflammation must be present in inflicted patients. Although AOM may occur at any ages, it is in the U.S most commonly seen in infants aged between 6 and 24 months. Established risk factors are as follows:

• Daycare: Children attending daycare centers have been shown to have higher incidence of AOM [Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2000 Sep 15;55(1):33-45]
  
• Pacifier use: Children who use a pacifier have higher incidence of AOM
  
• Tobacco smoke
  
• Air pollution
  
• Family history

Breast feeding for 3 months or longer has been shown to decrease episodes of AOM [Clin Infect Dis 1996 Jun;22(6):1079-83].

The congestion of the inner lining, a.k.a. mucosa, of the eustachian tube, a.k.a. ear tube, precedes AOM. This congestion causes obstruction of the ear tube. The obstruction results in accumulation of secretions in the middle ear where viruses and bacteria grow and cause AOM. The middle ear secretions may persist for weeks following AOM.

To diagnose AOM, doctors use a pneumatic otoscope.

Normal ear drum

Ear drum in acute otitis media

Complications of AOM such as mastoiditis and meningitis occur more often in developing countries. Other important complications are labyrinthitis, petrositis, and lateral sinus thrombosis.