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What's Going Around San Diego County

Snowy Owl

Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
What's Going Around San Diego County
http://www.kfmb.com/features/healthcast/story.php?id=63935


Last Updated:
09-20-06 at 3:32PM

Several different viral infections are causing problems in San Diego and symptoms of a runny nose and cough continue to increase.

North County

Doctor Daniel Calac in Pauma Valley is seeing cases of Bronchiolitis. The illness is usually caused by a virus and is an infection of the small air passages in the lungs.

It's common in children and is the leading cause of serious lower respiratory illness in infants. Symptoms include a runny nose, cough and fever.

After a few days, the illness can cause a shortness of breath and breathing that is rapid and labored with wheezing.

Symptoms may last three to four days and may require medical attention.

East County

Doctor Katherine Francis in El Cajon says she's seeing more allergic rhinitis.



That's a fancy name for hay fever, which occurs when the immune system overreacts to particles in the air. That triggers allergy symptoms, such as watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose.

Hay fever suffers should try to avoid exposure to allergens whenever possible and use over-the-counter medications to manage their symptoms.

Central San Diego

Doctor Jennifer Tuteur is seeing an increase in impetigo.

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that causes red sores. The sores can occur anywhere on the body, but most often appear around the mouth and nose.

Impetigo is contagious and can be spread to others through close contact or by sharing towels, clothing, toys or other items.

Scratching can also spread the sores to other parts of the body.

Antibiotic ointment that is applied directly to the infected areas of the skin usually cures impetigo, but sometimes antibiotic pills are needed.

South County

Doctor Eric Leute in Imperial Beach says there's an increase in upper respiratory infections or URI's. Also known as a cold, the illness begins when a virus attaches to the lining of your nose or throat.

There is no cure, but the most important thing you can do is drink a lot of fluids to keep your body hydrated.

A person is contagious for the first few days of a cold.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Snowy Owl, this is exactly what happened to me. Friday sore throat, Saturday head cold, Sunday I had this:

"After a few days, the illness can cause a shortness of breath and breathing that is rapid and labored with wheezing."

Doctor on Monday. Bronchitis. Don't have a history of it and I live in the Northeast.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Commonground,

I do not know if you have children or if you have been near some, but school just started and each year it is more or less the same. Bugs get around and many kids starts their school stress and tired, immune system down and free to catch all kinds of bugs.

And in their generosity, they share it with the adults. :D
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

I did set my son up at College the previous Tuesday before the onset of symptoms on Friday. It just evolved so quickly. Never had that happen before. Forgot to mention this happened this week (Dr. was this past Monday).
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

We have family out in Santa Monica and they are reporting bronchitis among the coworkers. Will be traveling out there this weekend and returning next week. Am very leary of plane travel right now due to the terrorism, bugs etc.
Am pretty sure this will be my last time traveling for some time. Am considering wearing an n-95 mask during the flight.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Hi Ponygirl,

I live a few miles from Santa Monica. I would be interested in knowing whether your family has any knowledge of an unusual frequency of people also suffering from symptoms of conjunctivitis, fever, headache, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain/cramps.

Marcie
 
Last edited:
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

By the way, I'm sure we all agree even if a lot of people have flu symptoms that isn't necessarily an indication that it's bird flu. Flu season is coming up. But I would still be interested in knowing. Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice, safe trip.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Snowy Owl's post mentions Bronchiolitis, which I googled and posted here. :)

http://www.drgreene.com/21_1040.html


Bronchiolitis
Introduction:
Worried parents stand over the crib, listening to their baby cough and struggle to breathe. He may have bronchiolitis. Most parents have heard of pneumonia or bronchitis, but what does bronchiolitis mean?
What is it?
Bronchitis is inflammation of the large airways in the chest and pneumonia is inflammation of the lung. Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the smaller airways connecting the two.

Bronchiolitis is usually a viral infection. RSV is responsible for the illness in most children. Adenovirus, parainfluenza (croup), and other viruses can also cause bronchiolitis.

In adults and older children, RSV usually appears as a bad cold. However, in babies and toddlers whose bronchioles are smaller and easier to plug, these viruses often cause bronchiolitis when inhaled.

Who gets it?
Bronchiolitis is primarily a disease of young children before their second birthdays. The most common age for bronchiolitis is about 6 months.

Winter and early spring are bronchiolitis season. Children in day care are usually much more likely to get bronchiolitis. Kids who are exposed to cigarette smoke are at even higher risk. Babies who attend day care are less likely to get bronchiolitis than those who stay home with a parent who smokes.

Boys are more often affected, as are formula-fed infants. Those at high risk for asthma also appear to be prone to bronchiolitis.

Most kids who get bronchiolitis have been exposed to an adult or another child with a cold in the previous week.

What are the symptoms?
Bronchiolitis usually begins with cold symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and perhaps a mild cough. The appetite is often decreased. The child may have a fever or might be a bit cooler than normal.

After a day or two, breathing becomes faster and the cough becomes more severe. It may be a deep or wheezy cough. The child may develop wheezing and respiratory distress.

Breathing difficulties can make it hard for babies to feed.

Is it contagious?
Bronchiolitis is very contagious. It spreads most commonly by contact transmission, droplet transmission, and fomites.

How long does it last?
Mild bronchiolitis may last only for a day or so. Often the disease lasts 5 to 12 days. The first 3 days are the most critical.

How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis is often based on the history and physical exam. A chest x-ray can give additional information, as can a pulsoximeter to measure oxygen levels. A specific swab for RSV might be done to identify the cause of bronchiolitis.

How is it treated?
There are no specific medicines for treating bronchiolitis at home. It is important to give plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Also, a humidifier or saline nose drops might be recommended to thin the mucus.

Some children need supplemental oxygen or even mechanical help to breathe. A powerful aerosol treatment specifically against RSV is sometimes used for hospitalized children.

Steroids and antibiotics are not usually helpful.

How can it be prevented?
If possible, protect your baby from exposure to sick individuals during the peak bronchiolitis season. In addition, good hand washing, particularly just before anyone handles susceptible infants, can decrease spread. Don’t forget to use a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Two products are now available to prevent RSV infection in children at high risk for serious disease. RSV-IGIV (RespiGam) and palivizumab (Synagis) have been approved for high-risk children.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Am contacting my family out there now Marcie. Will get back to you soon.
Thank you for your kind wishes.

:cool:
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Spoke to my mother who lives in East San Diego, not in the El Cajon Valley, she's near La Mesa and Lemon Grove, if you know the area.
Mom is 86 years old and two weeks ago had a sinus infection with lots of yellow discharge. She didn't feel like it was a cold, just had lots of sinus pain. She is over it now. My older sister lives with her and did not get sick. Usually when one of them gets a cold so does the other.
There has been a tremendous amount of smoke in the air from the fires in Los Angeles. This fire smoke travels to San Diego.
:eek: This really is an eek too. My sister who lives with mom is going to Alaska for one week at the end of the month.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Marcie

They just think its environmental from all the smog and pollution. Am not an environmentalist but they do use a lot of energy in CA with so many people. It looks like they are heading for a meltdown IMHO. Anyway again they mention bronchitis and none of the other symptoms you decribed.

Am going to tell you something from my personal opinion and experience.
Am going to strongly caution people here about contact with DUCKS.
Do not want to get into specifics but would try to avoid close contact with them as MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
 
Re: What's Going Around San Diego County

Thanks for the info, Ponygirl. I hear there are fires in Southern California, so maybe that's part of the problem.

Very curious about your comment about the ducks, though. :confused:
 
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