Treating Red Tide Symptoms

[drbawa]

Many individuals including myself have experienced coughing and upper respiratory problems from the red tide bloom that has been detected off the coast.

For mild symptoms, you can try Loratadine (claritin) which will help reduce the irritation as the body reacts to the toxins in the air. Loratadine is an anti-histamine like benadryl but does not cause the sleepiness that benadryl does. It is now generic and very inexpensive and readily available over-the counter.

Those who still have problems after Claritin will need to seek medical attention. Other medications such as singular might help to control the symptoms. Asthmatics are at increased risk of having problems and will want to seek advice early. For severe symptoms, we often prescribe medications like prednisone but this must only be given by a licensed medical professional.

This advice is not meant to take the place of an individual consultation with your physician. Please seek individual medical attention as needed.

Dr. Bawa
www.drbawa.com
45 Sugar Sand Lane
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850 534 4170

 

[Kurt]

Thanks Doc.

Usually I only hear bad problems when someone swims in the stuff and they get flu-like symptoms. Or if someone is very sensitive and breathes heavy concentrations.

I'd be interested to know how bad cases are that you are treating.

 

[seacrestkristi]

Yes, thank you, doctor.

Is everybody bothered by this stuff?

 

[Jdarg]

I only coughed when I was on the beach, and the coughing was my only symptom. One of the Grayton charter boat captains said that he had to take his fishing charter boats several miles out to get out of the red tide area.

It was the same with my friends- they had been battling it last weekend in Destin, but as long as they were not on the beach, they were fine. I'm sure it depends on how strong the wind is blowing on shore, right?

 

[kathydwells]

I am curious...can you actually see the algae in the water?

 

[Jdarg]

I am curious...can you actually see the algae in the water?

The water was pea soupy looking, but I don't know if that is the red tide or just some seaweed issue.

 

[TreeFrog]

I am curious...can you actually see the algae in the water?

Not down here by Eastern Lake. But then I don't smell it here either. Tuesday you could smell it in Rosemary, but I didn't go to the beach there to have a look.

 

[drbawa]

There are many different varities of red tide (you can look up the names etc by doing a search on google). Red tide is caused by algae that actually have cholorphyll and just like plants, they use the sun to survive. I believe they can be different colors just like plants can and some varities can be red or green looking. Sometimes, the colors can be visible by the naked eye and sometimes by satellite but the only definitive way to be sure is to test the water.

Some varieties produce more noxious gasses than others and some people react more to the gasses than others. Just like some people are more bothered by cigarette smoke, some people find the smell more bothersome than others.

Red Tide is said to be blooming when there is a large concentration of this algae in the water. Some varities of red tide produce chemicals that concentrate in shell fish and can cause severe diarrhea and dizziness in those who eat contaminated shellfish.

When there is a huge amount of algae in the water and they happen to die out, the decomposition process causes all the oxygen to get sucked out of the water. Thus fish can die in droves when there is not enough oxygen.

Hope this answers some of your questions. It is nice to see that there are so many inquisitive, curious and interested people in our county...

Dr. Bawa

 

[kathydwells]

Thank you Dr. Bawa. I certainly learned alot.

 

[drbawa]

Forgive me if I do not answers everybody's questions since there are so many. Feel free to ask again if you do not find the answer...

Someone asked how severe are the cases that I am seeing. So far, I have not treated anyone who is critically sick but that might be because those people end up going to the ER.

However, I have seen a lot of people with unexplained cough that is very bothersome. I too have been very bothered until I figured out the cause and started treatment...

NB