HULYO DIECIOCHO: ANG SORE THROAT AT ANG HARRY POTTER 3D

Photo Credit: www.gatewaycineplex10.com

Lunes. Ginawa ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para maaga akong makatapos sa trabaho. Hanggat maaari ay kailangan kong makaalis ng opisina ng alas-tres.

Umaga nang araw na ito ay muli akong nakaramdam ng sore throat na nagsimula pa nang nagdaang araw. Hanggat maaari ay iniiwasan kong magkasore throat mula nang lumala ang tonsilitis ko noong Enero. Buti na lang ang sore throat ko ngayon ay hindi naman gaanong masakit tulad ng nauna kong mga sore throat na labis kong ikinabahala. May nararamdaman akong kirot sa parteng kanang baba ng aking lalamunan sa tuwing lulunok ako ng laway o kaya'y iinom ng tubig. Datapwa't walang sakit kung ako'y lulunok ng pagkain. 

Tanghali nang bisitahin ko si dok (company doctor) para ipakita sa kanya ang aking blood test result. Sabi ni dok, kailangan kong pababain ang aking kolesterol. Pinatingin ko rin sa kanya ang aking lalamunan. Aniya, namumula ang aking tonsils. Wala naman siyang iniresetang gamot. Naisip ko rin na gagaling din naman ito sa mga susunod na araw. Nang mabanggit ko sa kanya na nang nagdaang araw ay kumain ako ng doughnut at napakain din ako ng leche flan, sabi ni dok, nakaka-irritate ang doughnut sa throat, idagdag pa yung pagkain ko ng leche flan. Kaya naman, ipinangako kong hinding-hindi na ako kakain ng kahit anong matatamis na pagkain. 

Pumatak ang alas-tres ng hapon. Mabuti naman at nakisabay ang pagkakataon para makatapos kaagad ako sa trabaho. Dali-dali akong naghanda ng aking sarili. Mga magaalas-tres y media nang tuluyan kong lisanin ang opisina.

Napagkasunduan namin nina Leah at Paul na sa Gateway Mall na lang kami manood ng sine. 3D ang panonoorin namin at siyang unang pagkakataon ko. Nauna na sina Leah at Paul sa Gateway at inaantay ako. Alas-cuatro cuarenta pa naman ata yung simula ng Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sa Cinema 5 at makakahabol pa naman ako. Tutal, nagpareserve na rin ng tickets si Leah.

At sa wakas dumating na ang pagkakataon. Ang pinanabikan at pinakaaantay kong pelikula ng Harry Potter ay napanuod ko sa 3D. Sa kabuuan, walang itatapon ang pelikula. Mahaba ang itinakbo ng kwento at ang bawat eksena ay kapana-panabik. Sulit na sulit ang halagang doscientos ochenta kada isa para mapanuod ang pelikula sa 3D.

Pagkatapos manood ng sine, nagdesisyon kaming kumain. Halos libutin namin ang Araneta sa paghahanap ng makakainang papabor sa'kin. Bawal ang karne sa'kin sa mga araw na ito dahil soft diet pa rin ako. Wala rin kaming nahanap na seafood sana ang inihahanda. Kaya naman, nauwi kami sa Goldilocks sa loob ng Ali Mall. Ang kinain ko, sinigang na bangus belly. Sa totoo lang, yun ang unang pagkakataon kong kumain sa Goldilocks, mas gusto ko kasi ang Red Ribbon. Datapwa't, nagustuhan ko ang sinigang na bangus belly nila. Ika nga, mura na, masarap pa.

Mga quince minutos bago magalas-nueve nang magpasya kaming umuwi. Dumaan kami ni Leah sa Mercury Drug Aurora para bumili ng Laxatrol. Iinom ako nito sa pangalawang pagkakataon. Iniisip ko pa lang, nasusuka na ako.

SORE THROAT PART II

It was in February when I had my last check-up with my ENT doctor in St. Luke's. This was still in relation to my sore throat that took more than a month. I had throat swab. The test showed the microorganisms present in my throat and the antibiotics that they are sensitive or they can resist.

Well, to sum up, my doctor said that everything was fine. I had nothing to worry. Though there are microorganisms present in my throat. They are normal, the doctor said.

Months have passed. Sometimes I could feel that there's something inside my throat that bothers me. I could feel hoarseness, as if there's something rough in my throat that goes down and up. I also noticed that my tonsils are not normal in size. And actually, my left tonsil is larger than my right tonsil.

Until one day this June. I felt some pain in my throat. When I checked my mouth, I saw that my tonsils were swollen. I was then bothered when I saw some white pus. The following day, when I checked again, I saw some scratches on my tonsil. 

I seek for the advice of our company physician, like what I always did when I had it on the first time. She told me to take clarithromycin twice a day within five days. Later, I realized that I have flu. Some fever, colds and cough. I came to the conclusion that the reason why I had the sore throat was because of the flu.

Before I could actually consume the drugs, I noticed that my throat was feeling better. 

Nevertheless, just a week after, I felt some pain again in my throat. I saw some white pus again on my left tonsil. I felt anxious for myself. 

I took personal medication. I took clarithromycin twice a day within five days. However, five days have passed and yet I was still feeling some hoarseness in my throat. 

So I decided to go back to the doctor. She told me that my tonsils were indeed swollen. I asked her if she could refer me to ENT for check-up. She also informed me of possible removal of my tonsils. 

Eer! That's an operation.

On June 29, I went to St. Lukes. They referred me to a different ENT. 

The doctor explained to me the importance of the tonsils and when they become useless.

At the young age, tonsils are important because they produce cells that protect us from infections. However, at the age of eight, lymph nodes started to grow that replace the job of the tonsils. At the same age, tonsils should start to shrink and become useless.

As we intake different foods and anything in our mouth, tonsils become the best breeding place for organisms to grow. Considering that mouth is the dirtiest part of the body. 

There are three scenarios that could lead to tonsillectomy or the removal of tonsils. As for my case, recurrent tonsillitis and enlarged tonsils are the causes why I need to undergo the operation, Dr. Jurilla said. He added that in the level of one to four of tonsils enlargement, my case is already three.

In case that tonsillitis is recurrent, complications could lead to rheumatic heart disease or kidney failure. Rationale: there are veins from the tonsils which are connected to the heart and kidney.

The doctor already scheduled me for the operation on July 16th. 

I'm not yet decided for the operation because I was thinking for the cost. St. Luke's is not an ordinary hospital. It's one of the expensive hospital. 

The next day, I went to our company doctor. I told her that I was scheduled for an operation. I asked her if I could go to other hospital which is cheaper than St. Luke's. 

So she referred me to Humana. I need to ask for an LOA, she said.

When I was in Humana, the ENT doctor re-examined me. I was surprised that he informed me that I am pretty good. That I have nothing to worry.

In contrast to Dr. Jurilla, Dr. Vincent Luzod (if I got his name correct), told me that in the range of one to four tonsil enlargement, my case is only two. He added that the operation for my case is not necessary not unless I want to. 

With Dr. Vincent's statement, I was vindicated. I decided not to undergo the operation.

As per him, the operation is recommended on the following: having three tonsillitis within a year in three consecutive years; having five tonsillitis within a year in two consecutive years; and/or having seven tonsillitis within a year.

As of press time, I'm doing fine. The hoarseness I was feeling since this week has gone. Hoping for the best.

DOH WARNS THE PUBLIC AGAINST SCARLET FEVER

The Department of Health is reminding the public to make necessary healthy precautions against scarlet fever after Hong Kong declared an outbreak.

On the report of ABS-CBN News, Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the DOH's National Epidemiology Center, said scarlet fever is a childhood illness that usually affects children 10 years old and below. The symptoms are fever, sore throat, strawberry-colored tongue, and rashes.

As per Yahoo News, the doctors in Hong Kong are investigating the death of a 5-year-old boy believed to be the second person in Hong Kong to die from a mutated form of scarlet fever with higher resistence to antibiotics, authorities said Wednesday. The boy was taken to hospital with a fever and died Tuesday. Medical authorities were checking whether he had the same strain of scarlet fever as a 7-year-old girl who died of the disease in May. She became the first patient to die of the illness in at least 10 years, and researchers at Hong Kong University said she had a genetically mutated strain that is much more resistant to antibiotics.

Pictures: Google

Source:

Scarlet fever is a disease caused by infection with the group A Streptococcus bacteria (the same bacteria that causes strep throat).

Causes

Scarlet fever was once a very serious childhood disease, but now is easily treatable. It is caused by the streptococcal bacteria, which produce a toxin that leads to the hallmark red rash of the illness.

The main risk factor is infection with the bacteria that causes strep throat. A history of strep throat or scarlet fever in the community, neighborhood, or school may increase the risk of infection.

Symptoms

The time between becoming infected and having symptoms is short, generally 1 - 2 days. The illness typically begins with a fever and sore throat.

The rash usually first appears on the neck and chest, then spreads over the body. It is described as "sandpapery" in feel. The texture of the rash is more important than the appearance in confirming the diagnosis. The rash can last for more than a week. As the rash fades, peeling (desquamation) may occur around the fingertips, toes, and groin area.

Other symptoms include:

Abdominal pain

Bright red color in the creases of the underarm and groin (Pastia's lines)

Chills

Fever

General discomfort (malaise)

Headache

Muscle aches

Sore throat

Swollen, red tongue (strawberry tongue)

Vomiting

Exams and Tests

Physical examination

Throat culture positive for group A strep

Rapid antigen detection (throat swab)

Treatment

Antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that causes the throat infection. This is crucial to prevent rheumatic fever, a serious complication of strep throat and scarlet fever.

Outlook (Prognosis)

With proper antibiotic treatment, the symptoms of scarlet fever should get better quickly. However, the rash can last for up to 2 - 3 weeks before it fully goes away.

Possible Complications

Complications are rare with the right treatment, but can include:

Acute rheumatic fever

Bone or joint problems (osteomyelitis or arthritis)

Ear infection (otitis media)

Inflammation of a gland (adenitis) or abscess

Kidney damage (glomerulonephritis)

Liver damage (hepatitis)

Meningitis

Pneumonia

Sinusitis

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if:

You develop symptoms of scarlet fever

Your symptoms do not go away 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment

You develop new symptoms

Prevention

Bacteria are spread by direct contact with infected people, or by droplets exhaled by an infected person. Avoid contact with infected people.

Alternative Names

Scarlatina