Dr. Gott: Night sweats could be serious symptom

Dear Dr. Gott: I have night sweats. The doctors haven’t a clue as to why, so I’m running it past you.

I’m 79 years old. I’m told my blood panel is normal, and I’ve taken a tuberculosis test that was OK.

Now what?

I change my pajama tops about three times a night. It’s so frustrating, and the problem has been going on now for about three years.

Do you have any answers?

Dear Reader: I could not determine from your short letter whether you are male or female, so I will provide a general response.

Menopausal symptoms in both men and women can result in night sweats, both during the process of menopause and afterward. However, I am concerned about other, more serious possibilities.

This symptom can reflect a hidden infection or cancer.

I’m not trying to frighten you, but I believe that after three years an aggressive diagnostic approach is appropriate. Although the final result may be a simple menopausal hormone deficiency, at least you will have ruled out more serious causes.

Meet with your primary care physician to develop a strategy, and involve specialists (such as an internist) as needed.

To provide you with related information, I am forwarding a copy of my health report “Viruses and Cancer.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Dear Dr. Gott: Recently we had an employee in our office who developed poison ivy. It began to spread, and he went to the doctor to get a shot.

The doctor told him that it was contagious and that he probably would miss a week of work. I never knew poison ivy was contagious.

What are your thoughts on this? Should he miss work because of poison ivy?

Dear Reader: The allergic rash called poison ivy is common, uncomfortable and can be spread by direct contact with affected skin. This is clearly a result of simple exposure and should not be a problem after three or four days.

Poison ivy is not contagious in the usual sense of the word. That is, the disorder is not spread by inhalation of respiratory droplets and other methods by which viral and bacterial diseases are said to be contagious.

Taking a week off from work is not necessarily an appropriate option unless it is an extreme circumstance. Your employee can itch at work as well as he can at home.

I assume his physician supplied him with a topical product for itch relief.

Dear Dr. Gott: What can I use for an underarm deodorant? I used to use one, but I heard the one with aluminum could be dangerous because your body could absorb it and it could lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

I am in my early 80s, so I’d like to be careful.

Dear Reader: Deodorants contain perfume, while antiperspirants affect sweating and moisture buildup because they contain aluminum salts, which some studies have linked to dementia. There is still no conclusive evidence.

My advice? If you need to use something, avoid the aluminum antiperspirants. Simply purchase aluminum-free products, which you can find at your local health food store or large supermarket.