Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-28
Stop Killing
Yourself
By Dr.. Peter J. steiusrOhu

Many a youngster is told to
stop making a mountain out
Of a molehill with his sore
throat. cts only a sore
throat. Take a little aspirin.
There's no reason for you to
miss school so many days.
Besides, your fever is only a
little over &c."
Even good and perceptive
diagnosticians have missed
the diagnosis in members Of
their own family. Infectious
mononucleoSiS often wears a
mask.
1T BEGINS as an ordinary
sore throat or the flu. There
are a few aches and pains,
some difficulty in swallowing
and a little fever. Impatience
to get back to school or work
often gets the patient out of
bed too early. Within a day or
two he quits and goes back to
bed. Now, perhaps, he is COM
planning of painful glands in
his neck.
At this point, doctor and
family should become suspi-
cious of mononucleoSiS. You
can make the diagnosis easily
with specific tests. There is a
blood test which shows many
abnormal type lymphocytes
present. Another blood exami-
nation called the "heterophil
antibody liter" is also dag
nostic.
Once the diagnosis is made,
the patient should be at rest
in bed for a number Of weeks.
The length of time will de-
pend upon whether or not
there are any complications.
For example, hepatitis with
or without jaundice) demands
complete and longer rest. In
some few cases (about one in
1000 there have been such
complications as encephalitis.
Infectious mononucleosiS
sometimes called "the kiss
ing disease" because it is
thought to be so transmitted
by youngsters should always
be suspe C e d in any sore
throat that hangs on. Al
though the doctor will pre-
scribe drugs, rest is the most
important part Of treatment.
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: The
articles that l have read on
allergies to insect stings have
agreed that when death &C.
ours from a sting there is prac-
tically always a history of a
"severe reaction" to a prior
sting. However, l have been
unable to find out just what is
meant by a severe" reac-
ton.
Would an extremely large,
red swelling at the site Of the
sting that requires two weeks
or more to subSide completely
be regarded as a severe or a
more or less normal reaction?
Would a person who has had
two such reactions be advised
to take special precautions?
Our vacation plans depend
partly on your reply, so l
thank you in advance.-Mrs.
C.
l BELIEVE that the history
of those two severe reactions
is sufficient to qualify the pa
tient for a series Of desensitiza-
ton treatments by a good al
lergist. Undoubtedly there is
enough evidence Of allergy to
warrant precautionary meas
ures. Besides, if you don't do
something about it, you will
tremble in fear every time
you open the door to 60 out
Side-whether on vacation or
not.
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: About
two weeks ago / went to a
doctor for a complete physi-
cal. (You have been recon-
mending them for years and
at last l got up the courage to
co. l was in his office less
than 10 minutes and the ex-
animation took less than five.
Is that complete examina-
ton? Mrs. S.
NOT COMPLETE; not any
kind Of physical examination.
Sorry for your unfortunate ex-
perience, but better try again.
Most doctors who are interest
ed in preventive medicine
give you all the time that is
necessary.
DR.. Steincrohn'S ledtlet,
Hon To Overcome Tension
and Fatigue" tDiH be mailed
to you on receipt OF a
stamped, self-GddreSsed en-
UeIope and 10 cents in coin
for handling. Address DR..
Steincrohn In care OF The
. Evening Star.
Tomorrow: Gleueomo.