FYI

How does one catch colds?

2005-12-30T18:08:00.000+08:00

The common cold is spread through direct person-to-person contact. Viruses from infected persons are airborne in droplet spray that is emitted during normal respiration (breathing), sneezing and even coughing. The portal of infection is the nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the throat behind the nose. It has a short incubation period of only one to four days. Susceptibility to colds is determined by a person's immune system status (immunologic status). Physiologic functions such as fatigue, allergy, rhinitis and menses could increase the likelihood of catching colds.

Although nasal discharge is the hallmark of the common cold, symptoms differ from person to person. Some complain only of headache, others complain of pharyngitis and cough. The physical signs, however, are limited to the nasopharynx, the sinuses and the middle ears.

Complications of the common cold are usually bacterial in nature, where effusions or discharge may appear in the sinuses and in the middle ear.

The Common Cold

2005-12-21T15:59:00.000+08:00

http://www.writingup.com/blog/migs

The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory passages. The causative agents are the picorna viruses such as the rhinoviruses which comprise the largest single etiologic group, the adenoviruses, reovirus 1, and the myxoviruses. Generally speaking, the common cold refers to any undifferentiated upper respiratory infection. Rhinitis, laryngitis , "chest cold" and pharyngitis are terms used to refer to designated areas of infection.

The common cold is spread by direct person-to-person contact. Its frequency of occurrence peaks during the winter, and is correlated with sharp changes in temperature and humidity. Viruses from infected persons are airborne in droplet spray that is released into the air during breathing, snezing, talking, coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms of the common cold include: nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, sore or dry throat, malaise, headache, cough, sneezing, burning eyes andmucous membranes, and muscle aches.

The Infectious Diseases

2005-12-04T15:06:00.000+08:00

I will be writing about health and start with infectious diseases. I will try to write well researched articles so as to provide readers with basic information about a lot of topics in health, and in the future, include environment and parenting articles as well. So read on...it's FYI.

Viral diseases belong to the category of infectious diseases, which include influenza, mumps, smallpox, yellow fever and the common cold. These diseases are caused by infection with viruses. Also included in this category are measles, rubella, rabies, poliomyelitis, herpes simplex, and hemorrhagic fever among many others.

Bacterial diseases also belong to the category of infectious diseases, whose causative microorganisms are the bacteria. Bacterial diseases include pneumonia, rheumatic fever, meningitis, whooping cough, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and osteomyelitis .

Also found under the infectious diseases category are diseases caused by mycotic agents such as fungi. These include diseases such as: histoplasmosis, actinomycosis, aspergillosis, candidosis, penicilliosis and many others. Those that are caused by protozoan include: amebiasis, giardia lamblia, coccidiosis and malaria. Those that are caused by metazoans include: paragonimiasis, trichuriasis, ascariasis, myiasis, etc.

My next blog will discuss the viral diseases, particularly the common cold.

What I'm Planning to Write About

2005-12-04T00:19:00.000+08:00

Hi there! I'm still thinking of what articles to write about in this blog. There are so many topics to choose from and I want to narrow down my choices to only 2 or 3 main topics.

I'm thinking of writing about health and the environment...topics that I'm passionate about. Or maybe even add parenting issues, because I'm a parent myself. I'm a mom to three very lovable boys, who serve as my inspiration to write meaningful, informative articles; hoping that they too, will learn from my writings. I'm delighted at the thought that they will all be proud of me and probably go like: "my mom wrote it" after reading my postings.

I would probably begin with health topics tomorrow, then start with environment issues after I have exhausted all health topics I could think of. Then write about the one role in my life that I will never trade for anything in this world : being a mom.