Cause

Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is spread by sneezing, coughing or personal contact.

Clinical features

The onset of the illness is somewhat like a cold, with a runny nose and a mild fever. This progresses rapidly to a nasty cough, and breathing may become rapid and laboured. A high whistling sound called a wheeze may be heard when your child breathes out. Your child may be difficult to feed and may become quite distressed. In severe cases, the child may look blue around the lips. In this case seek immediate medical attention.

Treatment

Mild attacks of bronchiolitis can be managed at home. Offer your child smaller but more frequent feeds. Give paracetamol according to direction if your child has a fever. Make sure that he drinks plenty of fluids. A humidifier in his room can help to ease the cough and make breathing easier. Make sure the child is in a smoke-free environment.

If your child is having difficulty breathing or feeding, and appears to be distressed, he may be better off in hospital for a few days until the worst of the illness has passed. The hospital staff can provide oxygen if necessary, and if your child cannot feed he may require an intravenous infusion for a few days. Anti-asthma drugs have not proved to be of much use in this age group, probably because the muscles surrouding their larger airways are not fully developed, and this is the site where these medications work. Anti-asthma medication may be tried, just in case your child responds to it well. Most children recover fully after 7-10 days.

When to see your doctor

• if your child is coughing and distressed;

• if your child has difficulty feeding.

Take your child to hospital immediately

• if he becomes short of breath or has difficulty breathing;

• if he looks blue around the lips.

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Dr. Harold Lief, a pioneer in the study of sex and marriage, describes what he calls FAIDS, or the fear of AIDS. It is certainly to be expected that any of us would fear a deadly disease, but fear will not help us find the exclusive intimacy that would decrease the spread of AIDS. Fear and anxiety actually weaken the immune system and allow even more vulnerability to the AIDS virus. If we want to lessen our chances of falling victim to any virus, I believe we must strengthen our immune system by healthy daily living and loving styles, not weaken it medically or by our living style. The focus on insertion, ejaculation, variety, and adventure that dominated the first three perspectives only makes us more vulnerable to any disease, including AIDS. The editors of a major journal, The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, state, “Voluntary abstention from sex with infected persons is our best weapon against the spread of AIDS to the general population.” Another positive step is to commit intimately, intensely, and over time to one partner, to find super sex in one long-lasting, loving relationship.

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HUSBAND

I can say without fear of contradiction from any sex researcher that the number-one male sexual problem is not erective failure orejac-ulatory control, but the failure to enjoy sex, the failure to really enjoy sexual interaction with a woman. My clinical experience teaches that the male genital focus, the phallocentrism of the American husband, has seriously jeopardized and compromised his potential for true sexual happiness. Men are not orgasmic, they are ejaculatory. Climax for too many of them is an end to an activity, the accomplishment of a challenge, the extra point after the touchdown, the completion of a project rather than the beginning or renewal of feelings of closeness, intimacy, and warmth.

“When my husband finishes—shoots his load, as he likes to say—he is really shot. I feel like I should ask him if I can get him anything else. I feel like a waitress instead of a sex partner.”

Her husband responded, “Sure. Remember the time you said ‘wait until the girls hear about this.’ Really made me feel great. I’ll bet I am the feature story for your coffee klatch.”

And so it goes, a perpetual sexual sparring, with both partners getting hurt. Such difficulties might be expected outside of marriage, for seldom do shorter-lasting, more anonymous sexual relationships provide the opportunity for learning, communication, mutual growth, understanding, total life-sharing, and intimacy that is available over time within marriage. Unfortunately, more than half of married people report dissatisfaction with their sexual lives. One reason is that men may be doing it more but enjoying it less.

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Common products which could have propyl alcohol in them include cosmetics, perfumes, deodorants, shampoo, hair spray, mouthwash, body lotions, vegetable oils, antiseptics, shaving creams and rubbing alcohol. Propyl alcohol is also listed on the product labels as propanol or isopropanol. Any compound having a “prop” sequence in their name should raise your suspicion.

Benzene is so deadly, that it should be totally absent from our environment. Yet, traces of it can be found in many products ranging from bottled water to toothpaste and chewing gum. Benzene is not added intentionally in any food product. However, it is used in the process of extracting food additives, flavours and as a cleaning agent. Most products containing added flavours or extracts potentially contain traces of benzene. A typical example is a mint extract from mint leaves which is used in toothpaste, chewing gum and confectionery. Any product containing any food extracts and/or flavours potentially contains traces of benzene. Simple logic tells us that we should avoid such foods. Benzene is also added to unleaded petrol (gasoline).

Xylene, toluene and other solvents are used in paints, cleaning agents, petrol (gasoline), colour pen markers and other consumer products. Of course, you do not eat such products, but you can breathe the solvents into your lungs. It is quite logical, that you should avoid inhaling any solvents.

For further examples, go to the library and inspect Chemical Dictionary. Look up the solvents listed above and read in what quantities they are manufactured and how they are used in the food industry. Prepare yourself for a shock.

Mercury is one of the most toxic metals to our body. It directly affects most of the functions of the brain. Yet, it has been used for decades in the form of dental amalgam fillings.

As the mercury is slowly released from the amalgam – such fillings act basically like toxic time bombs. See the References for more details.

Fluoride is very toxic and for years has been used as a rat poison. Yet, most of the municipal water in the USA, Australia and many other countries is poisoned with it. The only large city in Australia having fluoride-free water is Brisbane, and interestingly enough, children in Brisbane have the healthiest teeth in the country.

It is little known, that in 1990-91 forty US dentists sued the American Dentist Association for misinforming the public and the dental profession about the effects and extent of amalgam and fluoride poisoning (NEXUS Vol 2 No 2 February 1991).

From just the few examples listed above, it becomes quite clear that it may be quite difficult, if not impossible, to avoid toxins completely.

However, it is quite possible for us to take precautions and to change our lifestyle to:

• minimise the intake of poisons

• assist our body in its natural purification processes

In the following chapters I will show you how you can do this.

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Legionella pneumophilia is the name scientists have given it, and there appear to be several closely related strains. This organism is hard to grow and detect.

It is believed to be present in some air-conditioning and humidifier units, in standing water, creek water and in fresh excavations.

The germ appears to spread through the air and be breathed into the lung where it causes infection. Spreading from person to person has not been demonstrated.

Epidemics occur mainly in the summer and autumn, although odd sporadic cases may occur throughout the year.

The disease mainly affects the middle-aged or the elderly, especially those whose resistance is lowered and who can mount little immune response to the infection.

Incubation period varies between two to 10 days, with a mean of six days.

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Although, in medical circles, most drugs are known by their proper or generic names, they are usually prescribed by brand and so patients become familiar with the names given by the manufacturer rather than by the chemists who discover and research them. These drugs are:

Alprenolol — Aptin and Betacard

Atenolol — Tenormin

Labetalol — Trandate

Metoprolol — Betaloc and Lopressor Oxprenolol — Trasicor Pindolol — Visken Propanolol — Inderal Timolol — Blocadren

Anxiety often stimulates the autonomic nervous system to key up the body ready to deal with the feared danger. We are all familiar with this “fight or flight” mechanism, when the beating heart, tight feeling in the throat, and sinking feeling in the abdomen tends to make us sick with fear.

These physical symptoms of tension can be controlled in many cases by the use of the beta blockers and have been used in relieving those inconvenienced by “stage fright”.

Their safety has not yet been established in pregnancy and, of course, doctors and women are cautious about using any drug during pregnancy, especially in the first three months when the foetal organs are forming.

Beta blockers can be excreted in human milk and so nursing mothers may need to be cautious of these as well as other drugs.

Recently they have found use in preventing migraine.

If you are taking beta blockers, relax — their benefits outweigh their disadvantages and, having been around for some time, any hidden dangers should already have shown themselves.

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Diagnosing endometriosis is primarily a medical matter, but it is a personal one, too. Cure requires cooperation. The more information a doctor has, the better your chances for correct treatment. Conquer endometriosis with good sense: Pay attention to your symptoms and keep a log of them. Examine your family history for unmistakable connections to the condition, especially severe menstrual cramps. Be informed about the disease and its diagnostic tools, and tell your doctor everything related to the condition. Do not submit to surgery without a second or third opinion, and be sure the opinions you get are not from doctors who are affiliated with the first doctor you see. Doctors who practice together or refer you to a physician of their choice may tend to think alike. This does not imply they are mistaken in their judgments; you just want to ensure a fresh point of view. Remember, today endometriosis can be diagnosed without a laparoscopy. Your participation in conquering endometriosis can make all the difference!

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Some of the more common changes are those associated with alterations in the blood vessels. In pregnancy there is an increase in blood flow due to the increased rate of blood formation and the dilation of blood vessels. As a result a woman may develop little blood-vessel enlargements which appear as red spots or as spider-like tracings. These usually occur on the face, chest or hands, and are known as ’spider naevi’. Some women may develop swollen ankles or varicose veins. Many also exhibit very red palms.

Changes in pigmentation are also common. There is a general deepening of colour, particularly in brunettes. These changes are most conspicuous in certain areas, such as the skin about the nipple and the genital area. About 70 per cent of women, especially those with a dark complexion, develop chloasma, the so-called ‘mask of pregnancy’. This usually occurs during the second half of pregnancy. It takes the form of irregular areas of brown discolouration in a symmetrical pattern. It is usually on the forehead, temples, and upper lip. These changes can be diminished by adequate sun screening measures, together with the application of such bleaching preparations as hydroquinone creams. Frequently there is an increase in the number of pigmented moles. Similarly, many existing moles, freckles or birthmarks may become darker in colour. These changes need not cause alarm, although if an isolated mole grows rapidly, a doctor should be consulted.

hair, which may go on for three to six months. This is due to the hair follicles going into a resting stage. Full recovery usually follows. There may also be an increased growth of facial hair, but frequently this, for some unknown reason, persists after delivery. This hirsutism may also be accompanied by acne.

Fleshy, soft skin tags, or papillomata, may develop in considerable numbers, particularly on the neck, upper chest, and under the breast. They may disappear after delivery; if not, they can be easily removed by diathermy.

Itching is a quite common accompaniment of pregnancy. In fact it may be one of the earliest signs of the condition. Very occasionally it may be associated with a mild dysfunction of the liver or even jaundice. More commonly it is unassociated with liver changes or even a rash, and is simply of nuisance value. The abdomen is mainly affected, and it tends to be worse in the last months of pregnancy. The itching should disappear within a week or two of delivery.

Stretch marks, or striae, also appear on some pregnant women. Similar marks occur on some adolescents, girls being more commonly affected than boys. (Striae will also result from the prolonged use of steroid cream, particularly in the creases.) Both in pregnancy and puberty, these stretch marks are due to excessive adrenal gland activity, together with rapid overdistension of the abdomen, breasts or thighs. Consequently they cannot be prevented or even diminished by the application of any known creams or oils. Fortunately, after delivery, most cases improve with the passage of time.

There are a small number of extremely itchy diseases, confined solely to pregnant women. They usually occur towards the end of pregnancy, and invariably disappear after delivery. The commonest type does not affect the foetus, whereas the rarer ones may. Furthermore, some pre-existing skin disorders may be profoundly affected by pregnancy in rather unpredictable ways.

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