Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease- What’s Going Around, Week of May 8
The summertime stops some illnesses in their tracks, but also brings its own share of problems. That’s just one thing local doctors are talking about when looking at “What’s Going Around” the area where you live.
The climate change and increased winds over the last two weeks have brought more people in to the Mecca Clinic for treatment of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Dr. Randolph Gibbs explains the allergic type is the most common and can be seasonal, perennial, or occupational. The non-allergic variety is usually a viral infection. Symptoms of rhinitis include congestion, sneezing, watery eyes and post-nasal drip. An exam can reveal nasal polyps, swelling or discharge, so seeing the doctor for treatment can sometimes be beneficial.
Dr. Erica Ruiz says she’s starting to see the summer ailments come in to her La Quinta practice. Those include yeast infections, which often happen when moist skin isn’t dried quickly after swimming or sweating. This causes redness and irritation on the skin. Dehydration is also a common cause of bladder infections, which increase in numbers right now. Most of the time an antibiotic is needed to resolve symptoms.
Good news from a respiratory standpoint in Palm Springs, Dr. Michael Jardula tells us the flu is winding down a bit. But he’s still treating lots of allergy related sinus congestion.
Also in Palm Springs, Dr. Frank Arian reports sinusitis and outer ear infections. Allergies are often behind sinusitis, which shows up with green or yellow discharge draining from the sinuses, along with pain around the forehead, and a fever. “After a recent increase in seasonal allergies, I predicted a rise in sinus infections,” Arian says. “This occurs for at least two reasons. First, one of the main treatments for seasonal allergies are inhaled nasal steroids. These medications cause functional immune compromise of the nasal passages and predispose to sinus infections. Second, sinus congestion due to allergies with loculation and pooling of mucous in the sinuses tends to grow microbes, just as a warm stagnant pond does.” Also, as more people hop into the pool, Dr. Arian is seeing more cases of otitis externa, or outer ear infections. After swimming or bathing, be sure to blot out all the remaining water in your ear, or even use a few drops of alcohol to “chase” the water out of the ear canal.
Dr. Arturo Quintanilla saw several cases of Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease among his little patients in Rancho Mirage. This viral illness affects mostly young toddlers in daycare. It’s characterized by high fevers, irritability, poor feeding because of pain in the mouth, and blisters mostly on the palms, soles, and buttocks. Serious complications can occur, like dehydration, viral meningitis, seizures and skin infections. See your doctor instead of trying to treat this at home.
Watch “What’s Going Around” every Tuesday evening at 5:30 and every Wednesday morning at 6:45 on CBS Local 2.
