Respiratory Alkalosis - in Popular Culture

In Popular Culture

In The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton's first novel, scientists later discover the cause that explained the survival of a small child to the extraterrestrial -pathogenic epidemic was due respiratory alkalosis secondary to constant crying and hyperventilation from it. The alkaline environment was inhospitable to the pathogen. An acid pH would provide a similar protection and illustrated by an old man that by drinking his customary home made concoction developed metabolic acidosis. This explaining the reason for the only two survivors.