Dear Dr. SerVaas:

Several months ago your column gave the source of a deodorant to be taken internally to eliminate embarrassing bowel odors. I regret that I cannot find that column at this time. I have had a gastric resection due to cancer, and I believe this product could be most helpful.

Naomi Akins

Port Clinton, Ohio

Thanks for writing. Devrom tablets containing bismuth subgallate have helped many SatEvePost readers with embarrassing bowel odor. If you can't find Devrom, call 1-800-558-2376 for Nancy Wickham who will fill

your order.

In our last issue, we wrote that Devrom also helps halitosis. Reader L. G. Matusek from Wharton, Texas, said that bad breath continued to be a problem despite twice-daily brushing of the teeth and tongue. We asked Indianapolis gastroenterologist Gregory Blitz to comment on other potential sources of halitosis:

"There are conditions involving the upper gastrointestinal tract which could result in bad breath. In general, there would be other associated symptoms. These would be conditions in which food would remain in the upper gastro-intestinal tract and decompose rather than being digested and moved expeditiously through the gastrointestinal tract.

"Gastroparesis, where food sits in the stomach for prolonged periods of time, could cause bad breath, along with reflux of this decomposing food. This is particularly problematic in diabetics. In achalasia, the esophagus is dilated and atonic. The lower esophageal sphincter is hypertensive. Food sits in the distal esophagus for prolonged periods of time. Other esophageal dysmotility conditions, where food would sit in the esophagus, could also cause this. Another option would be a Zenker's diverticulum. This is a diverticulum in the area of the upper esophagus. Rather than food going directly from the mouth into the stomach, food can sit in this diverticulum, or pouch, proximally and decompose.

"I should add the single best study which would yield the most information regarding the above diagnoses would be a good-quality barium upper-GI x-ray, along with an esophogram done by a radiologist with interest and expertise in gastrointestinal radiology."

Living With Asthma

Tobacco smoke is a powerful trigger of asthma symptoms and harms children with asthma even more than adults. We have learned of two new initiatives to help adults and children with asthma live active, healthy lives.

Free asthma screenings for people who are experiencing breathing problems will be held at more than 300 locations across the country beginning this May. Adults and children can find out if symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath might be a sign of asthma through the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Nationwide Asthma Screening Program.

Kids Bill of Rights

A new tool developed by the American Lung Association underscores the right to breathe clean air at home and at school, the right to play sports with a doctor's agreement, the right to stay inside if air pollution levels are too high, and the right to carry asthma medications. The Kids With Asthma Bill of Rights also encourages children to work with their parents, teachers, and doctors to create an "Asthma Action Plan" for when trouble strikes.

Asthma specialists will conduct the free asthma screenings at shopping mails and other accessible locations throughout the country.

During a screening, adults and children answer questions about any breathing problems. Participants also take a lung function test and meet with an allergist.

For a list of asthma screening sites or to take online versions of the questionnaires, visit www.acaai.org and click on "patient education." Information will appear at top right.

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