EVERY few years I fall foul of something unusual while travelling. Most recently I suffered a sudden allergic reaction to concrete and red brick dust. The city I was visiting in America was in the midst of major re-development, and on a hot summer day the air was thick with dust. Some of this lodged under the pads of my glasses and became embedded in the skin of my nose.

I was to give a series of three lectures that week, but within a day of my arrival a mild itching of the nose had escalated into a rapid swelling, and soon my features resembled those of the Lion King. I could barely read because my eyes had gradually closed, and I could no longer wear my glasses anyway.

Worse still, my face was itching continuously and I felt nauseous. It was clear the problem was not going to subside with a simple application of a cleansing agent or antiseptic cream. So I set off to the medical centre to seek help.

A brief introduction to the administration soon routed me to a nurse, who quickly concluded that I really needed a doctor. After a detailed examination and discussion, it was concluded that a course of antibiotics was required, and a good night's sleep. As I shook hands with the doctor and heeded his parting advice, he handed me his business card just in case I needed to seek his help later. I collected my dosage from the pharmacy and headed back to my hotel.

Having taken my pills, I retired for the night with an ice pack on my nose. The next morning saw little change, but it was certainly no worse. At the airport that morning I emailed the doctor as follows:

"Lion King to Doc - Many thanks for the attention and diagnosis. This morning I feel a little better, the swelling has stopped, but it looks as if I may have some external skin infection. During the night I have developed a few minor surface blisters - but nothing inside, as far as I can see. I seem to be on the mend, but the skin still itches badly."

Within an hour I received an email reply on my flight west: "Doc to Lion King - Good to hear, consistent with infection, let me know if resolution becomes complicated."

By that evening I was prompted to send another email: "Lion King to Doc - I have even more itching. My skin is less red, no more blisters, and the swelling going down. I think I am on the mend. I'm beginning to wonder if this was some kind of an insect bite. I have no internal symptoms, all external, and all skin irritation."

I soon had another reply: "Doc to Lion King - The lack of further swelling is a good sign. The itching is also probably a good sign. Possible, might try one per cent hydrocortisone cream three times daily if itching and redness continues, available over the counter."

At the next opportunity I purchased the cream, and within two days I was really on the mend. When I arrived back in Britain a week later there was no visible sign I had been ill. Moreover, I had been able to deliver my lectures wearing my glasses in not too much discomfort.

Powerful stuff this e-medicine; perhaps something we can all benefit from, travelling or no.

Peter Cochrane holds the Collier Chair for the Public Understanding of Science & Technology at the University of Bristol. His home page is:
http://cochrane.org.uk