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2003-08-02 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by SOG475 2003-08-02 8:32:15 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Wild speculation: a reaction to breathing talcum powder-fine dust - clogging the alveoli and triggering a response of mucus generation?

I certainly went through a period in Saudi where I coughed a LOT for the first 2-3 months - and it was that fucking ariborne grit, I'm sure.

Steve White? Aren't you a medico? Can you lend some expertise?

#2 Just a thought from an EMT. There are a lot of local, ratty-ass diseases that we never hear about because the locals are all immune by now. There have been a couple of mini epidemics in Afghanistan.

WMD implies more cases, and located in the same area. Gotta wonder about pnumonic plague, there have to be fleas in Iraq.

Posted by Chuck 2003-8-2 9:37:20 PM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2003-8-2 9:37:20 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Would this likely be true of any "biting" insect: flea, "sand" flea, chigger, mosquito (of course), biting flies, etc.? Could any of these by type be a disease carrier / vector? They have them all in the desert - especially if in contact with camels and such vermin.

BTW, Thx for response - I just went thru my first thorough introduction to the Chiang Mai bug collection (10 days of hell) which is different from the Bangkok collection - those don't "bug" me anymore. Now I'm a native (heh).

#4 Yep, I'm a lung doc. Possible causes: strain of common bacteria (e.g., strep) for which we westerners don't have great immunity; new bacteria/parasite; or toxic reaction to something in the soil/air. Dust is less likely a cause. A vector would explain a lot. I hadn't heard of this til now, but I'll do some checking around.

Posted by Steve White 2003-8-2 11:13:32 PM|| 2003-8-2 11:13:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 The deserts of Arizona has something called "Valley Fever"anybody who has spent time in the the Sonran Desert probably has it.Valley Fever is caused from a fungus prevalent in the soil. Symptoms range from mild flu/cold to Pneumonia.

Northern Arizona has a Hunta(spell check,Steve)virus,caused by air-borne dust from rodent droppings.We also have Bubonic Plaque in the North.

Posted by raptor 2003-8-3 7:25:16 AM|| 2003-8-3 7:25:16 AM|| Front Page Top

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