Monday, January 29, 2007

eternal structure : house of study and prayer

Rav Moshe Ben Abu-the Sephardic rav of Gilo- a neighborhood in the south of Jerusalem with more then 40000 residents- asked me to help him find via the internet somebody [or even more then one person, if one would not be enough for this purpose] who is willing financially to help build a synagogue [beit knesset] with a beit misdrah [learning/study halls] in Gilo.

This house of prayer /study will be open for 24 hours a day for anybody who wants to be involved in Jewish studies or hear lectures on torah and related topics [and of course for prayers].



The person or persons who are willing to take this upon themselves may have the sole right to have their name[s] connected to this "eternal structure" [the building will be called after him/them or after who ever they choose]



The costs are: one million two hundred thousand U.S dollars.



Who ever blessed to have been given abundant richness by God may want to consider this proposal, knowing that he/she is building a home where for- ever torah wisdom will be transferred from generation to generation which may lead to eternal world peace.



If you wish you may write me or you may contact the rabbi directly ,



his telephone numbers in Jerusalem are: 026760022 and 0507323882



May God bless you,



Dr. harold jitschak bueno de mesquita, Family physician in gilo

Rehov ha-teena 8 ,gilo

Jerusalem 93384

tel: 026761716

E-mail: bdmesq@gmail.com



I declare hereby not to have any financial interest in this project



keywords: synagogue ,beit knesset, beit midrash, study halls, Gilo,Jerusalem, Israel, holy city, Rav Moshe Ben abu, bdmesq

"stridor" :ONE OF THE EMERGENCIES IN CHILDREN חרום נשמתי אצל ילדים

pseudo-croup = "stridor"

today i would like to give you-as parents- a very usefull tip for children with stridor.

most stridors are more scaring [mafchid] then really dangerous.

there are however situations in which a stridor can become a real emergency.

it is hard to describe you in all details what a stridor [pseudo-croup] is,but for practical reasons one can describe this as a situation whereby a young child wakes up [mostly in the middle of the night] with shortness of breath and one hears a heavy wheeze[tsiftsuf] while the child is inhaling[noshem=machnis awir],together with a hoarse [tsarud],barking cough.

often the child improves when he is brought to the window/balcony/in fresh air.

a good thing to have at home ,if a child suffers now and then from stridor ,is the following homeopathic mixture:

hepar sulph / aconit / spongia ,all of them D30 ,together in a bottle [30 cc is enough]

give frequently,during an attack,even every 5 to 10 minutes a few drops on the tongue.

often after a few doses the attack abates[mafsik]

for certainity one can give then, a few days before sleep , a few drops.

these can be repeated as often as necessary in case of further attacks.

in fact i have seen [heard from parents]that this combination worked virtually always.

highly recommended that emergency rooms would adopt this practise as well.

in any yeshuv/kibbutz/community: keep a bottle with these drops at hand.

this homeopathic combination is not my own finding,one will find it in most homepathic books.

i just have quite a bit of experience with it.

do realize that a stridor may be a symptom of various conditions/diseases.

[ achild may have swalloed a foreign object [guf zar] ]etc

if one is in doubt take the child to a doctor without waiting.

any case of cyanosis [kichalon],

drooling[harbe rok me-ha-pe],

extreme restlesness,

[extreme ]drowsiness

should be a sign to have the child be examined straight away.

in any case however -if one has these drops available- give frequently a few drops [2drops are enough]even if the child is in the hospital.

"stridor" :ONE OF THE EMERGENCIES IN CHILDREN חרום נשמתי אצל ילדים

pseudo-croup = "stridor"



today i would like to give you-as parents- a very usefull tip for children with stridor.

most stridors are more scaring [mafchid] then really dangerous.

there are however situations in which a stridor can become a real emergency.



it is hard to describe you in all details what a stridor [pseudo-croup] is,but for practical reasons one can describe this as a situation whereby a young child wakes up [mostly in the middle of the night] with shortness of breath and one hears a heavy wheeze[tsiftsuf] while the child is inhaling[noshem=machnis awir],together with a hoarse [tsarud],barking cough.



often the child improves when he is brought to the window/balcony/in fresh air.



a good thing to have at home ,if a child suffers now and then from stridor ,is the following homeopathic mixture:



hepar sulph / aconit / spongia ,all of them D30 ,together in a bottle [30 cc is enough]



give frequently,during an attack,even every 5 to 10 minutes a few drops on the tongue.

often after a few doses the attack abates[mafsik]

for certainity one can give then, a few days before sleep , a few drops.

these can be repeated as often as necessary in case of further attacks.

in fact i have seen [heard from parents]that this combination worked virtually always.



highly recommended that emergency rooms would adopt this practise as well.



in any yeshuv/kibbutz/community: keep a bottle with these drops at hand.



this homeopathic combination is not my own finding,one will find it in most homepathic books.

i just have quite a bit of experience with it.



do realize that a stridor may be a symptom of various conditions/diseases.

[ achild may have swalloed a foreign object [guf zar] ]etc

if one is in doubt take the child to a doctor without waiting.

any case of cyanosis [kichalon],

drooling[harbe rok me-ha-pe],

extreme restlesness,

[extreme ]drowsiness

should be a sign to have the child be examined straight away.



in any case however -if one has these drops available- give frequently a few drops [2drops are enough]even if the child is in the hospital.

special comfort for this rosh ha-shana, which we all need : beautiful, from the legendary advocate of the yewish people

This story I heard from my teacher and I find it so beautiful that I want to share it with you.

The Berditchever rebbe [1740-1810,Poland] is the legendary advocate of the Jewish people

in the mishna is written :

yom tov shel rosh hashana shechal be shabbath......[yom tov of rosh hashana which begins on shabbath]..............

Says the rebbe: there is something superfluous here: there could have been written: rosh hashana shechal beshabbath and that would have been enough.

Why then is the the extra word yom tov mentioned here??

Well,because it is a REAL yom tov for the Jewish people for the following reason:

Kadosh barug hu [G-D]behaves,as it were[if we may say so],just like the Jewish people to whom he gave the tora,he keeps- as it were -also the laws of the tora.

On rosh hashana the books of life and death are opened.

[ a thought which makes us all behave extra careful during these days........]

As it is forbidden to write on shabbath,so G-d ,as it were could also not write in the books of life and death,because he keeps to the same rules as we and does not write on shabbath.

When is He "allowed" to write on shabbath?? [if we may say so]

[ just like we are permitted to write on shabbath]

In cases of pikuach nefesh [saving lives] ONLY !!

So that is according to the rebbe the meaning of the extra word" yom tov" in the mishna,because it should be a REAL YOM TOV for us.

Says the rebbe : kadosh barug hu has no choice [if we are allowed to say so] then to write us in this case in the book of life[to keep alive is pikuach nefesh] and not -chas we shalom-in the book of.........which is not pikuach nefesh and forbidden on shabbath.

I find this "defense" incredible BEAUTIFUL and may this become true for all of us.


'Dry brushing' -- brushing teeth without toothpaste ........PLEASE READ, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ALL FAMILIES

[ 'Dry brushing' -- brushing teeth without toothpaste ]

Use as tooth-paste the drops I wrote in the past about [drops we asked to two pharmacies to make up,containing only herbal drops and far healthier then various kinds of tooth-paste] instead of regular tooth-paste. [available in the french pharmacy in Gilo and in Oplatka on rehov jafo.



Dry Brushing Beats Dental Plaque

'Dry brushing' -- brushing teeth without toothpaste -- may be a more effective plaque remover than brushing with paste, one expert says. This study found that 128 individuals who dry-brushed over a six-month period saw plaque deposits on their back teeth drop by 67%, compared with plaque build up found on their teeth before the dry-brushing regimen began. Gum bleeding due to gingivitis (gum disease) also fell by 50%.

One should use a soft, dry brush which seems to scour away built-up bacterial plaque better than a moistened one. If bristles feel stiff, 'relax' them by running your thumb through them before brushing. Begin inside, finish out. The inner surfaces of the bottom row of teeth should be brushed first, before saliva buildup develops. Proceed to the inner top level of teeth next, then move to the outer surfaces. The dry-brushing process should take about a minute and a half.

Prevention September, 1997;49(9):45 [cited by dr. mercola]

A good safe creme for all purposes?? read below לנשים בעקר

For woman patients: a short note [ from a "male doctor"]
many cosmetic creams have shown to contain toxic products.
you could better avoid all sort of commercial creams.
if you want a real effective and safe cream [for all purposes] then use symphytum cream.[comfrey]
The french pharmacy in Gilo [ tel: ]makes an excellent one and a I would highly recommend this instead of the often unsafe commercial ones.
the article below describes some other [ pharmacological] aspects of the symphytum plant.

Summary

Topical preparations containing comfrey extracts are used for the treatment of various muscle and joint complaints. There are numerous recent clinical studies and postmarketing surveillance studies available for these preparations. They confirm the analgetic and anti-inflammatory as well as the anti-exudative spectrum of action of the medicinal plant and also prove its high degree of efficacy and tolerance. The findings are presented in this overview.
Schlüsselwörter

Symphytum - Beinwell - klinische Studie - Anwendungsbeobachtung - Wirksamkeit
Key words

Symphytum officinale L. - comfrey - clinical study - postmarketing surveillance study - efficacy

WINTER DROPS [FLU DROPS]...........................MELTING SNOW טיפות לחורף

By now most of you will know that colds and flu are going around.

This year the symptoms seem to be more protracted ["memushag"] then in other years.

I wrote you in the past already about tea's for fever/flu, and recently also about a cough formula [primula] and a few days ago about osciloccocinum as prevention.

Today I would like to write you about a formula I am using already many years to strengthen the immune system [if you want to call it this way].

There is all kind of variations possible but for the sake of clarity I will write one formula that virtually everybody can use.

If you are treated with very exceptional drugs like coumadine or with a lot of other drugs then first discuss the use of this herbal formula with a doctor who deals with herbs.

The formula can be bought in homeopathic pharmacies, I advise to buy them in the pharmacies I am working with, because they keep the various compounds in stock [French pharmacy in Gilo or Oplatka on rehov jafo 110].

You may print the following out and show it to them, if you wish to buy the drops:

Astragalus 20cc / Echinacea 30cc / Tropaeolum majus 30cc / Cetraria isl. 10cc / Myrrha 5cc / Usnea 15cc, all of these compounds as a mother tincture [T.M] and all together in one glass bottle [not plastic!!].

Ask the pharmacy to give only the tinctures made by ketzar כצר ,as these are of a good quality.

How much to give?

I will give you some rough estimation;

6 months to one year: 5 to 8 drops

1-3 year: 8 to10drops

3-7 years: 10 to 15 drops

7-12 years: 15-20 drops

12-18 years: 20-30 drops

Older: 30-40 drops

This is a rough estimation; giving some more is not dangerous.

It may be good to start with half of the amount prescribed for one or two days and if tolerated well to give then the amounts as prescribed above.

When and how often to give?

To any child or adult who is often sick [presuming that he get good, nutritious food: how often should we repeat this!!?] one can give these drops for a 2 weeks in a row and then interrupt for 4 days or so and then start again and repeat this cycle.

The drops may be given 3 times a day [or in acute diseases even up to 5 times] and after

Fungus [ "pitrya"] of the nails.

Fungus [ "pitrya"] of the nails.

This message is not meant to give you solutions for all kin of possible fungus infections [maybe another time] , but just to warn you that certain oral drugs ,so easily prescribed for nail fungus, [and then with a "little warning" from the doctor: check your blood for possible liver- and other disturbances] are in my opinion [and not only in my opinion] totally irresponsible.

These drugs, like:

Terbinafine [brand names; lamisil,terbinafine-teva]

Itraconazole [brand names: sporonox, itranol- rafa]

and may be others , are totally unnecessary for this indication [nail fungus] and can cause severe liver damage and bone marrow depression which may lead to live dangerous situations.

These drugs should not be used for a cosmetic problem, they are far too risky!!

vitex agnus castus

Vitex agnus-castus
[Vitex]agnus castus, in Hebrew Siach Avraham.

This is an herb I have advised to hundreds of women [to take as a tincture, as drops] over the years, so I would like to tell to some more about what is known about this herb.
Agnus castus is primarily an herb for women!!
The biggest blessing is that it can increase the chance of getting pregnant and reduce the chance of miscarriages.
In quite a few cases I have seen after a few months of taking this herb women getting pregnant, often after a long period of "waiting". Once pregnant, it may be taken for the first 8 to 12 weeks in pregnancy which may help prevent miscarriage; thereafter it is in general wise to stop it.
It is often specially indicated if the progesterone levels are low [abnormal low progesterone levels three weeks after the onset of menstruation (serum progesterone below 10-12 ng/ml). which is considered abnormal when occurring in women between ages 20 to 40 years]
It can be very useful for all kind of menstruation disturbances. It may help to bring on and to regulate a menstruation, which is very irregular or absent [amenorrhea], it may settle irregular bleedings, It may be helpful to help regulate the ovulatory cycle, regulate menorrhagia (heavy menstruation) and it may be very useful also during the menopause.
It can stimulate the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and inhibit the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)]
It is also used for premenstrual complaints [PMS], both for the physical and psychological manifestations.
Physical symptoms such as headaches, sore breasts [mastalgia, mastodynia] bloating and fatigue and psychological changes such as increased appetite, sweet cravings, nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, depression, mood swings and lack of concentration can all be all reduced.
[Don't use it "automatically" for premenstrual depression as this may sometimes get worse from agnus castus.]
It may be used to regain a natural balance after the use of the birth control pill.
It may help to regulate [high] prolactine levels [by which the chance to get pregnant is enhanced]
It can help in cases of endometriosis[look this up in wikipedia if you want to know more about this condition]
It may help stimulate breast feeding, but this may take only effect after a few weeks of use.
In some cases of acne it may be also very useful, especially if these get worse before the menstruation. It may the have to be used for many months.
Again: a woman's herb for many purposes, which may be tried in many cases, even not by an expert.
It has a clear progesterone effect, but at the same time can be considered to be an amphoteric herb, as so many herbs are.
This means that it will regulate what has to be regulated [like an automatic "pilot"]. It helps restore a normal estrogen-progesterone balance, simply normalizing what has to be normalized. One of the wonders of nature, this self regulatory mechanism!!
It helps to restore corpus luteum insufficiency, and a non optimal ovarian function.
The general dose: 40 drops in the morning in a glass of water before breakfast. [It is wise to start with 10 drops and slowly increase the dose, in a week or so]
Ask [in Israel] for: agnus castus M.T.[tarkiz em] form the company ketzar and buy a bottle of 100 cc to start with.
Or buy it from any herbalist in Israel who knows how to prepare the tincture himself.
The shrub is native to the Mediterranean region.
Agnus castus can be used for a long time on a daily base until one gets pregnant or until the complaints get better.
Of course, not getting pregnant can have many medical [and non medical] reasons.
A not proper functioning thyroid is a well known cause from the female side.

Now I will sum up some other uses of this herb which with I have no personal experience, but which are mentioned in various research articles.

Now I will sum up some other uses of this herb which with I have no personal experience, but which are mentioned in various research articles.
Agnus castus can be used as a spray to keep away certain ticks from animals and humans for at least 6 hours. Mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas are also repelled for about 6 hours.
Significant antibacterial activity against some very problematic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aerogenes
It has been further used in tradition for: cholera, liver disorders, .malaria rheumatism, skin diseases, ulcers, worms, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, prostate enlargement, fibroids of the uterus, bothersome candida infections, and epilepsy.
In the book of Prof Dan Palevitch z.l. and Prof. Zohara Yaniv [for which Nissim Krispel and others interviewed quite a few older Jews , Arabs, Bedouins, Druze and Cherkassians in Israel]
the following indications are mentioned as folk medicine:
drinking a tea of boiled leaves for headaches, crushing the seeds and using and using it locally for pain, tea from the boiled crushed seeds for stomach pains and also for strengthening the hair roots.
Siach Abraham: what is in the name?? Everything is in the name!!
According to the same book this would have been the shrub where the ram was caught by it horns when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac.

A wonderful Chinese herb for heart [cardiovascular ]problems :danchen [salvia miltiorrhiza] תרופה סינית לבעיות לב וכלי דם

Some of you may be familiar with this herb, which I my have prescribed to you as "salvia miltiorrhiza" [also known as dan chen],possibly mixed with other herbs in tincture form.

I was happy to see this article even if the effects of danchen on the cardiovascular system are already known for many years in the west [and in china for ages]
the "drug" is available in Israel as a tincture [from chevrat "ketzar"] and is also available from the U.S.A in a good form from "planetary formulas".


Active Ingredient in Common Chinese Herb Shown to Reduce Hypertension

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Keywords
DANSHEN, HYPERTENSION, BLOOD PRESSURE, TANSHINONE IIA

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Description

Some 50 million Americans have hypertension, that is, blood pressure measuring above the normal range (less than 120/80 mmHg). If untreated, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, or kidney disease. Using an animal model, scientists have found that tanshinone IIA, an active ingredient of danshen, reduces blood pressure.



Newswise — Some 50 million Americans have hypertension, that is, blood pressure measuring above the normal range (less than 120/80 mmHg). If untreated, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, or kidney disease. Lifestyle changes are the first-stage treatment for the disease, but if they fail, medications are prescribed.

Many patients with high blood pressure have sought relief from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In so doing, many have consumed danshen, a Chinese herb used in Oriental medicine that promotes blood flow and treats cardiovascular disease.

Tanshinone IIA is an active ingredient of danshen. Since tanshinone IIA is widely available, a team of researchers has used it to investigate if this active ingredient can reduce blood pressure. In a soon-to-be-released study, using an animal model, the scientists have found that tanshinone IIA does reduce blood pressure.

Their study will soon be published in the American Journal of Physiology – Heart and Circulatory Physiology

(December 15, 2006), oi:10.1152/ajpheart.01027.2006, and is entitled Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase is a Molecular Vascular Target for the Chinese Herb Danshen in Hypertension. It was conducted by the team of David D. Kim, PhD, OMD; Fabiola A. Sánchez, PhD; Ricardo G. Durán, BS; Takehito Kanetaka, MD; and Walter N. Durán, PhD, all of the Program in Vascular Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Department of Surgery, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.

Summary of Methodology
To assess the effect of tanshinone IIA, the protocol consisted of several parts. The researchers applied the 2-kidney-1-clip protocol to induce renal hypertension in male golden Syrian hamsters. The animals were anesthetized and a retroperitoneal approach was used to place a silver clip to constrict the right renal artery. Sham-operated hamsters and mice underwent the same procedure, except for the placement of a clip.

Both sets of hamsters received 50 ?g of tanshinone IIA/100g of body weight once a day for two weeks. After the two-week treatment period, mean arterial blood pressure was measured in the right carotid artery. To examine the microvascular actions of tanshinone IIA researchers applied it topically to the hamsters' cheek pouch or mice cremaster muscles to achieve the final concentration of one ?g/ml or five ?g/ml. After the application of tanshinone IIA, the experiment was continued for an additional 60-minute period in order to measure arteriolar diameter and peri-arteriolar nitric oxide concentration.

Results
Tanshinone IIA was found to have significantly reduced blood pressure in the hamsters. The experimental constriction of the renal artery increased mean arterial pressure to 161.2±6.9 mmHg relative to 114.3±9.2 mmHg in age-matched hamsters. Treatment with 50 ?g tanshinone IIA/100g body for two weeks reduced the mean arterial pressure from 161.2±6.9 to 130.0±7.8 mmHg.

The research team also discovered that tanshinone IIA caused widening of the arterioles in the hamster cheek pouch microcirculation via enhanced expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The topical application of tanshinone IIA at one ?g/ml and five ?g/ml caused significant dose-related vasodilation, indicated by the increased agent/control ratio of arteriolar diameters from 1.0 to 1.25±0.08 and 1.57±0.11, respectively, in the hamster cheek pouch. The increase in arteriolar diameter ratio was significant relative to the vehicle for each concentration as well as for comparison between the two concentrations of tanshinone IIA.

Conclusions
As a result of the findings the researchers concluded that tanshinone IIA: (1) significantly reduced blood pressure in hamsters, (2) enhanced the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, (3) increased the production of nitric oxide and (4) induced blood pressure changes through vasodilation in hamster blood microvessels. While the mechanisms of how tanshinone IIA or danshen work in hypertension are not yet fully understood, these results contribute to the effort to bring complementary and alternative medicine and allopathic care closer together in the treatment of hypertensive patients.

"camel-like fever", chom k'mo gav ha-gamal....................Old books – new books

Old books – new books: why to bother to look in old books!?

……….Often after 2 to 3 days the patient is without fever free for a day, but thereafter the temperature rises again for 2 to 3 days.["camel-like fever", chom k'mo gav ha-gamal]

Read further to know what this means.

It seems that most of the flu [shapa-at] in Israel is behind us.

Why do I wish to write you about flu, if there is seemingly so little news to write about it –you may know all about it already

Flu is caused by an influenza virus.

Most common symptoms: sudden high fever, headaches, dry cough, all kind of body /muscle pains, etc.

All this is very well known to all of you probably.

Sometimes it may be difficult to differentiate between a simple common cold and flu, especially if the flu symptoms are mild.

I copy now for you the symptoms as described by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention [USA]:

Symptoms of Flu

  • Symptoms of flu include:fever (usually high)
  • headache
  • extreme tiredness
  • dry cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • muscle aches
  • Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Another description, copied from a famous other text book of medicine : [if you are interested see the whole description at the and of the e-mail.

………"In uncomplicated influenza, the acute illness generally resolves over a 2- to 5-day period, and most patients have largely recovered in 1 week, although cough may persist for 1 to 2 weeks longer"

During the [past] flu I "treated" most patients/families by telephone

[telephonic advise].

Most people already knew what "weapons" to use and just needed some reconfirmation.

Why is the title of this story: Old books – new books?

To explain this I will now copy [and translate] from an older Dutch book of medicine [1963] a short description of the symptoms of flu:

Symptoms:

The disease starts mostly acute [therefore the name: grippe,griep]

[French:gripper=to attack suddenly]

The maximum fever reaches its peak in the first 3 days [40-41 Celsius],but the fever can be much lower.

The fever lasts mostly 2-3 days but it can also continue for a week.

The temperature can go down suddenly ["critically", as this is called] but it mostly goes down more slowly.

Often after 2 to 3 days the patient is fever free for a day, but thereafter the temperature rises again for 2 to 3 days.

This is precisely what we saw in many cases in this last flu and not a single modern book seems to be aware of this phenomenon, or at least none of them mention it.

[I am therefore happy with my book from 1963 [van Buchem etc]and wanted to let you know this clinical picture in case the flu still continues]

I think it is important enough to know because one could falsely start worrying if this is not known and the fever recurs.

Of course in some cases the recurring fever could be a complication, but often it is not.

The book continues with the most common symptoms like described before [cough, headache, difficulty sleeping, muscle pains, painful eye movements, can't tolerate light, etc.

It is amazing that modern text books of medicine often ignore older well established clinical symptoms.

For those interested: the whole description from a modern book.

From
Harrison's Internal Medicine [considered by many as the "bible" of internal medicine]

Manifestations

Influenza has most frequently been described as an illness characterized by the abrupt onset of systemic symptoms, such as headache, feverishness, chills, myalgia, or malaise, and accompanying respiratory tract signs, particularly cough and sore throat. In many cases, the onset is so abrupt that patients can recall the precise time they became ill. However, the spectrum of clinical presentations is wide, ranging from a mild, afebrile respiratory illness similar to the common cold (with either a gradual or an abrupt onset) to severe prostration with relatively few respiratory signs and symptoms. In most of the cases that come to a physician's attention, the patient has a fever, with temperatures of 38° to 41°C (100.4° to 105.8°F). A rapid temperature rise within the first 24 h of illness is generally followed by a gradual defervescence over a 2- to 3-day period, although, on occasion, fever may last for as long as a week. Patients report a feverish feeling and chilliness, but true rigors are rare. Headache, either generalized or frontal, is often particularly troublesome. Myalgias may involve any part of the body but are most common in the legs and lumbosacral area. Arthralgias may also develop.

Respiratory complaints often become more prominent as systemic symptoms subside. Many patients have a sore throat or persistent cough, which may last for a week or more and which is often accompanied by substernal discomfort. Ocular signs and symptoms include pain on motion of the eyes, photophobia, and burning of the eyes.

Physical findings are usually minimal in cases of uncomplicated influenza. Early in the illness, the patient appears flushed and the skin is hot and dry, although diaphoresis and mottled extremities are sometimes evident, particularly in older patients. Examination of the pharynx may yield surprisingly unremarkable results despite a severe sore throat, but injection of the mucous membranes and postnasal discharge are apparent in some cases. Mild cervical lymphadenopathy may be noted, especially in younger individuals. The results of chest examination are largely negative in uncomplicated influenza, although rhonchi, wheezes, and scattered rales have been reported with variable frequency in different outbreaks. Frank dyspnea, hyperpnea, cyanosis, diffuse rales, and signs of consolidation are indicative of pulmonary complications. Patients with apparently uncomplicated influenza have been reported to have a variety of mild ventilatory defects and increased alveolar-capillary diffusion gradients; thus, subclinical pulmonary involvement may be more frequent than is appreciated.

In uncomplicated influenza, the acute illness generally resolves over a 2- to 5-day period, and most patients have largely recovered in 1 week, although cough may persist for 1 to 2 weeks longer. In a significant minority (particularly the elderly), however, symptoms of weakness or lassitude (postinfluenzal asthenia) may persist for several weeks and may prove troublesome for persons who wish to resume their full level of activity promptly. The pathogenetic basis for this asthenia is unknown, although pulmonary function abnormalities may persist for several weeks after uncomplicated influenza.