Couple of questions for the doc

[tiger31]

I am down with chest infection. I think I,ve had this about 4 times now in the Philippines. I am wondering if there is a link because I get this each time I have cold water poured over me, or on the last occasion when I got soaked to the skin when caught in a downpour. The misus always pours some hot water into the bucket at home so I can have lukewarm water shower. But she was,nt around this time. Because I,m a bit lazy to do it myself, I poured cold water over my head, and no matter how you prepare yourself for the shock of cold water over your head my body still goes into shock lol and lo and behold the next day I,m down with a chest infection. Is there a likely connection to cold water and me coming down with this bug? I,m coughing and wheezing bringing up phlegm, but clear. I am not a smoker either - never touched a fag in my life. I have not been to a doctor since late 2009 when I got my injections to come here, so I,ve been pretty lucky. I just use paracetamol to cure everything.

Second part of my question is: What is the difference between a CT scan and a CAT SCAN? As I want to get one of those health check ups where they do everything for about 17000 pesos including a scan and all blood tests. Is it wise to go ahead with this?

[Michael Parnham]

Wow Brian, sorry to here about your Chest Infection. I'm sure when Doc gets on your case he will be able to enlighten you on what procedure is required. Hope you get well soon. Keep us posted and take it easy until you're sorted!

[tiger31]

Wow Brian, sorry to here about your Chest Infection. I'm sure when Doc gets on your case he will be able to enlighten you on what procedure is required. Hope you get well soon. Keep us posted and take it easy until you're sorted!

Cheers Michael. I,m feeling like crap right now. As I.ve said, I,ve been lucky so far, in that I have not been to a doctors in over 4 years. Despite all the rubbish I eat, lol. I do worry about catching TB here, tho.

[Ako Si Jamie]

I had similar symptoms during my first trip to the Phils. I was pretty adamant the air conditioning was the culprit.

[Michael Parnham]

I had similar symptoms during my first trip to the Phils. I was pretty adamant the air conditioning was the culprit.

You could very well be right Jamie!

[Doc Alan]

I’m sorry you’re " down with a chest infection ", although one each year since you went to the Philippines doesn’t seem serious.


• TB is a problem in the Philippines – and even a concern in the UK with several thousand new cases each year – hence the pre-entry screening programme. However, you should not be too worried if your general health is good, and you don’t have symptoms like persistent cough, weight loss and night sweats. There’s much information on TB elsewhere in the Forum.


• Chest infections are common, due to viruses ( not needing antibiotics ) and bugs / bacteria ( which do need antibiotics, and may follow a viral infection ). Unless there are marked symptoms – like persistent " productive " cough ( with much, perhaps blood-stained phlegm/sputum ) and fever, with other health conditions, they usually get better within days. " Flu " may occur at any time of year in the Philippines, but the peak " season " is the second half of the year, so the jab is not recommended until March or after.


• Sudden exposure to very cold water – as in the recent " ice-bucket " challenge ( to raise funds for motor neurone disease ) MAY be risky for people with heart disease and high blood pressure, especially if elderly, and for pregnant women. It may cause blood vessels to constrict / narrow and put strain on the heart, also to breathe rapidly ( hyperventilate ). Many deaths from cold water immersions are due to cardiac arrest before there has been time to drown. However, there were no known deaths directly from the ice-bucket challenge. I don’t think cool water from a bucket – especially when you’re expecting it – would cause either a heart attack or chest infection.


• By all means have a health check up at a reliable clinic. It’s so different in the UK where basic health checks ( height, weight, vaccinations schedule, advice on diet / physical activity, checks for diabetes / blood pressure, with screening at certain ages ) are offered for free at GP surgeries.


• As for your suggested health check up for about 17,000 pesos …

CT and CAT scans are the same ( " computerised tomography " and " computerised axial tomography " ). They are generally safe, but expose you to more radiation than other imaging techniques like X-rays. They give detailed images which are very useful in diagnosing various health conditions ( such as cancers, other diseases, injuries ). CT scans are probably not a good idea if you don’t have symptoms. They should only be carried out on medical advice.

In the UK that advice is simpler to give than in the Philippines - where you have to remember that the benefits of screening apparently healthy people should not just be based on their ability to pay !


• For the record, but also not advised for screening " healthy " people, there are other imaging techniques :-


1. PET scans ( positron emission tomography), which are very useful especially in staging cancers, but also involve radiation and are very expensive.


2. Simple X-rays are useful, but do need specialist interpretation – in TB diagnosis, for example, they’re not the only method used in pre-entry screening.


3. MRI scans ( magnetic resonance imaging ) are painless and safe, giving very clear images, but expensive.


4. Ultrasound scans are also safe, and not just used in pregnancy, but also to diagnose many other conditions.

[KeithD]

In most cases you will find it is the aircon, as we Brits are not used to the change in air like that for long periods. Although due to the huge weather variations in the UK, you would think it wouldn't be a problem.

When I go to Nevada, within 2-3 days my skin dries out quickly due to the lack of humidity, and that probably affects some folks breathing.

It could also be an allergy.

[tiger31]

Thanks for the input doc and others. And yes, I do have the aircon running almost 24/7. I guess that is,nt helping me as I wake up feeling not good - dried out mouth - sometimes headache. I have tried to cut down on the aircon but the bloody missus has got used to it now. So, when I turn it off, she sneakily puts it back on again when I fall asleep.

[KeithD]

Thanks for the input doc and others. And yes, I do have the aircon running almost 24/7 I guess that is,nt helping me as I wake up feeling not good - dried out mouth - sometimes headache. I have tried to cut down on the aircon but the bloody missus has got used to it now. So, when I turn it off, she sneakily puts it back on again when I fall asleep.

Turn the thermo down so it doesn't come on as often, or install a timer so it only runs a couple of times during the night.

[jonnijon]

I've had a couple of bad bouts of coughing and bad chest since I have been living here. My thoughts have been the high humidity.