Flu That Starts In The Lungs Is Often The Most Severe

May 31, 1991|By Neil Solomon, M.D., Copyright 1991, Los Angeles Times Syndicate.

Q-Some people get a case of the flu and they`re up and around in several days, while other people who get the flu seem to have a really tough time of it. Is it just that some people are healthier than others and therefore have more resistance to illness, or are there different kinds of flu?

A-The state of a person`s health and the person`s ability to resist disease are certainly important.

But in the case of influenza, the initial site of infection appears to be an important factor in determining the severity of the disease.

And the site of infection is related to the manner in which the disease is acquired.

If the virus that causes influenza is contained in a fine spray, it is likely to travel to the lungs, which will become the site of infection.

But if the spray is heavy, it is likely that only the upper respiratory tract will be infected.

Q-I`m aware that on more than one occasion you have warned against the use of tanning lamps. But some time ago I was treated for a skin condition by a dermatologist, and he used a sun lamp. How do you account for this contradiction?

A-When I prescribe medication for one of my patients, I am treating a medical condition. When a dermatologist uses a sun lamp for a patient, he or she is also treating a medical condition.

In both cases, if the patient does not have a medical condition, he or she should not be using medication.

In other words, a sun lamp may be of value as therapy, but not for general use.

Q-Everything I`ve ever read about urinary incontinence refers to women. Are men ever affected by this?

A-Men and women are subject to urinary incontinence, but the problem is more common in women.

While about 20 percent of older men are affected by this, about 50 percent of all women will develop urinary incontinence at some point.

Q-I`d like to know the purpose of the eyedrops my doctor puts in my eyes before he examines me.

A-I assume your physician is dilating your eyes, that is, making the pupils larger. This makes it possible to see more within the eye and facilitates the detection of any disease that may be present.

Q-I know what the pain of a pulled hamstring muscle feels like, and I can point to the area where it hurts. But for about a week or so I`ve had a pain that covers a larger area of my leg, and a friend of mine who`s a physical therapist says it`s sciatica. I`d like to know what sciatica is, how it`s treated and anything else about it you think is important.

A-Sciatica refers to pain that is experienced at any point along the sciatic nerve. This is the largest nerve in the body, and the pain may be felt anywhere from the lower back to any portion of the legs.

The condition often develops as the result of a strain or sprain of the lower back.

A sprained hamstring muscle is another possible cause.

In most cases, there is no evidence of irritation of the nerve itself.

Fortunately, the pain of sciatica will generally fade within six weeks or less, regardless of the cause.

For this reason, physicians usually recommend conservative treatment for six weeks, unless there are unusual complications.

Q-With all the articles written about bone loss and how important calcium is, everyone must know that calcium helps build bone. Does calcium have any other purpose besides this?

A-Calcium plays a vital role in blood clotting, heart function, nerve-impulse transmission and muscle contraction.

And, of course, calcium helps maintain the teeth as well as build bones.


