I'm posting before checking the rest of the 150+ messages- --- Han Tacoma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I hope Debbi can add something to this. > Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, they are for > allergies! > > One can get pneumonia due to dehydration (and > aggravate asthma). > This is true of all antihistamines. > > Maybe ask Dr. about Valerian root tea for the sleep > condition? > Camomille tea also helps but I guess those would be > hard to get a child to accept. > > I don't mean to alarm you, it's just that I feel > strongly about > Doctors freely Rx'ing drugs as a quick fix (pardon > the pun) or the solution to a problem.
My guess is that she exhibited some type of post-nasal drip/sinus congestion (I can usually dx significant active sinus problems just by listening to someone speak a few sentences -- as can any speech therapist); allergies interfere more with children's breathing than adults, I believe, as their upper respiratory system has smaller passages, and so are more easily plugged up by mucus. Having had significant allergies as a child, I know that I mouth-breathed much of my childhood, and that it's worse at night; this in turn dries out the lung passages and leads to increased bronchitis/viral infections (we have noses for very good reasons!). Mouth-breathing also leads to dry mouth -> waking for a glass of water -> waking for bathroom trips -> interrupted sleep cycles (REM, deep, etc.). Many people have low-level allergies that they are not aware of; sneezing and itchy eyes etc are more overt symptoms, but I have treated people whose only manifestation was throat-clearing. (which they did essentially unconsciously to get rid of the mucus streaming down the back of their throats -- when it is extensive, you can see it if you shine a light into the open mouth). A mister/humidifier in the bedroom can help with dry mouth/mouth breathing/over-treated allergies. Debbi who has nothing to add to the flatulence thread, except that I've noticed snub-faced dogs seem to have worse er, fumes (for James Herriot fans -- recall Cedric the Boxer!) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
