Doctor Column

“VOICEPRINTS” — YOUR UNIQUE VOICE

In a few seconds, with remarkable confidence, one can tell the sex of a person speaking on the telephone or radio. We can recognize almost immediately the voice of our favorite artist who is singing our favorite song. And in the middle of the night, a mother can tell which child is crying. What’s going on?

INFLUENZA — ‘MORE THAN A COLD’

Most people would agree that the flu is more troublesome than a cold. Influenza (flu) is a contagious viral infection that targets your nose, throat, larynx and lungs. Flu virus droplets spread through the air when people sneeze, talk or cough. You can also contract the virus by touching a surface with the virus and then touching your nose or mouth.

COUGH IN CHILDREN

Whether it’s 2’o’clock in the afternoon or 2 in the morning, parents will worry, “Why is my child coughing?” Can I ignore the cough? Does he need medication? Is it necessary for my child to be examined by a doctor?

‘COUGHING’ — IN ADULTS

Coughing can present itself in various disguises. Doctors often look at coughing through the eyes of their own specialty. To an allergist, it’s a tickle in the back of the throat and a symptom of post nasal drip. To a gastroenterologist, coughing is due to reflux disease; to a psychiatrist it’s a nervous reaction. The infectious disease specialist wants to know if the cough could be due to HIV.