 | Joseph P. Galichia, MD is the founder and Medical Director of the Galichia Medical Group, PA. He is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of interventional cardiology. In the 70's, Dr. Galichia studied in Zurich, Switzerland with the inventors of the balloon angioplasty technique for treating heart disease. As a result of his experience, he was able to bring this historic technique back to the United States where he was one of the first physicians to perform coronary angioplasty here. A noted medical spokesman, he appears on a weekly Newstalk segment on KWCH Channel 12 and has a weekly syndicated radio talk show on KNSS 1330 AM every Saturday live from 11:00 am to noon. Dr. Galichia may be contacted by sending an e-mail to service@galichia.com |
Health & Medicine
2004-10-01 10:31:00
Flu, children's prescriptions...
: It seems that after every flu-type illness I catch, I end up with inflammation around the outer lining of my lung. What causes this and why is it so painful? Could this be the beginning of something serious?
ANSWER: Inflammation of the outer lining of lungs is called PLEURITIS. Pleuritis usually occurs in otherwise healthy individuals after viral respiratory infections or pneumonia. It causes pain because this lining is right under the chest wall that is supplied by lots of nerves. Thus, inflammation of the outer lining of the lungs, irritates these nerves and causes pain. This pain is localized and sharp and is made worse be coughing, sneezing, taking deep breaths or by movement. Sometimes the lower most part of the lining (that which touches a muscle called the diaphragm) becomes inflamed and irritates a nerve that causes referred pain in the shoulder.This is usually not serious if it is limited to inflammation of the lining. But sometimes complicated pneumonia or viral respiratory infections result in fluid or air between the linings of the lungs or thickening of the linings. This is a matter that requires further investigation and treatment measures. Pleuritis is treated with pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. If you have more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or cough or pain with normal breathing patterns, refer to your doctor. QUESTION: I see many children taking prescribed medications on a daily basis. Are we starting our children on a course of prescription drug overdose?ANSWER: It is believed that generally antibiotics are being abused. That is why scientists have begun worrying about suspected 'antibiotics resistant era' in the future. But most of the doctors are aware of this fact and tend to avoid antibiotics until or unless they determine that it has to be given in order to treat the child. Nowadays, parents even are a bit more cautious about putting their child on an antibiotic. It's true that conventional measures are a better way to go, and most of the doctors try other measures like suggesting humidifiers, Vicks, and over the counter cold medicines and waiting for a certain period of time to let cold-like illnesses resolve on their own, before starting antibiotics. Then, if they don't work, of course prescription drugs are the choice.If you think your child is being given prescription drugs frequently, it is a matter of concern, ask your doctor about it. QUESTION: What is Celiac Disease? I hear it's very common and a lot of people have it but don't know it.ANSWER: Celiac disease is a disease in which an individual is sensitive to a protein called "Gluten "that is present in certain grains such as wheat, rye barley, but not oats, rice or corns. In this disease the proximal part of small intestine, which is a passage way for food, gets damaged leading to decreased absorption of most nutrients. It is hypothesized that gluten stimulates an immune response in the lining if the small intestine that destroys the covering layer cells of the small intestine. Symptoms of the disease are diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal distention, and weakness or growth retardation in children. Typical symptoms commonly show between 6 months to 2 years of age when weaning is started, half of the cases present with atypical symptoms in childhood or adulthood. Children or adults usually present with chronic diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and flatulence. Many adults have very few gastric complaints but present with fatigue, reduced fertility, menstrual problems, short height, bone fragility and possibly some symptoms of vitamin deficiencies. It's true that most people don't know that they have it. The ratio of clinical diagnosis in the United States is 1: 5000. This shows that most of cases are undiagnosed. Essential treatment for this disease is "Gluten free diet ". Improvement in symptoms should be evident in a few weeks.
