Pneumonia Infections Complicating Influenza Influenza predisposes individuals to developing bacterial community-acquired pneumonia. During each of the influenza pandemics of the 20th century, secondary bacterial pneumonia was a frequent cause of illness and death and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) was reported as the most common cause. These findings also apply to seasonal influenza. S. pneumoniae remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness and death in the United States. Recently, pneumococcal infections have been identified as an important [...]
Gargling and Nasal Irrigation (Neti-Pot) With Salt Water – Will It Help You Avoid The Flu or a Cold?
A friend of mine sent me an email asking me if gargling with saltwater could be helpful for overall health and flu prevention. From my nursing background I remembered of course that is was often recommended for sore throats and “colds” and is very effective…so that sent me on a search…could salt water could be effective as a gargle or a nasal wash to prevent or treat colds or the flu??? So What Does Gargling [...]
H1N1 (Swine Flu): WHO Ukraine Update #2; Family Pet Cat Infected with H1N1
Today’s report is on the continuing story in the Ukraine and domestic cats catching H1N1. WHO has long warned that developing nations would have the most difficult time in this pandemic…mild as it might be…Developing nations don’t have the health care infrastructure to meet possible demands for basic and advanced care in the sheer numbers that are likely to ensue. I am afraid the Ukraine is a good example of that fear manifested. UKRAINE UPDATE [...]
H1N1(Swine Flu): Cases In California Shows Hospitalization Can Occur At All Ages, With Severe Results
I read with great interest the online version of JAMA (Vol. 302 No. 17, November 4, 2009), which painted a very different picture of our “mild pandemic”. It is mild yes, but when its bad, its really bad. “Since April 17, 2009, when the first 2 cases of pandemic H1N1 virus infection were reported in California, the virus has rapidly spread throughout the world,” the authors write. They add that preliminary comparisons with seasonal influenza [...]
