Thursday 17 March 2005

Pic of the day: Not quite that bad yet. (Screenshot from Sims 2.)

Non-strep day

In English -- or perhaps American, I'm not sure -- people talk about "strep throat". In Norwegian, we use a more general word meaning "throat inflammation". But even so, I was pretty sure it was a streptococcus infection. A sore throat, spreading to the nose and sinuses, thick green mucus. Admittedly there was much less mucus than I was used to, and it had not spread to the bronchia. But I wanted to catch it in time. Besides, with my guts already running wild this was an ideal time for antibiotics. So I called the doctor's office. My usual doctor was on vacation, but we agreed that this was an isolated event that did not require insight in my previous medical records. So I was, for a change, allowed in the same day. Less than one hour, actually. Well, that was the appointment; there was of course a little waiting. But not for days or weeks.

A small blood test was taken from my finger, and as small swab test was taken from my throat. Then I talked with the doctor for a few minutes. Ironically, this turned out to be the same doctor who had treated me for sinusitis the one time before, in the fall 2000. He knocked on various places in my face, and listened to my lungs. After around five minutes the tests were ready. To my surprise they showed that there were no streptococci and only moderate bacterial activity. (At least I believe that was what was measured by the second test.) The doctor concluded that it must be a viral attack, but he seemed to take no interest in what kind of virus. He recommended I buy a nose spray to open up to sinuses, and just let it run its course. Actually he indicated that I should consider myself lucky to only get one such infection every five years, and I guess he had a point there!

I had not mentioned any thing about the diarrhea, which has persisted from Sunday with no sign of improving. I had not considered the two to be related. I have read in American journals about "stomach flu", but those were personal journals, not medical journals. Living in a more enlightened nation, I know that there is no such thing as a "stomach flu". The flu is a respiratory disease. But thinking about it, I can easily imagine there are other viruses that attack both the digestive and the respiratory system. Adenovirus, most likely. I am still not sure this is what happened, but it is possible. We shall have to wait and see. A virus infection is usually not chronic: Either the viruses flood the body with more viruses, or the body floods itself with antibodies and flushes the viruses out. If there is no improvement in a week, it is probably something else, whatever "something" is.