Treatment for the ancient disease--Whooping cough

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection caused by any of three bacteria from the family of Bordetella. Children are especially susceptible to whooping cough.  When anyone has whooping cough infection, the bacteria stick to the outer lung cells and release a toxin which keeps the person’s lungs from clearing mucus.  The person deals with severe coughing as the body tries to rid itself of excess mucus.  As the person (child) finally coughs up the mucus and clears the throat, he draws in a big breath of air which creates the “whoop” sound. 

Antibiotics are only partially effective as treatment for whooping cough because the bacteria live on the outer lining of the lungs and cause this illness.  Until the recent questions by the experts, the pertussis vaccine was considered the answer.  The pertussis vaccine is included in the DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) More information can be found at http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/feds-find-whooping-coughs-increase-alarming-645472/?print=1 Moore, Peter, The Little Book of Pandemics, (New York City:  Fall River Press, 2009), 48.    

Old diseases that won't die off--Whooping cough

Old diseases that won’t die off---Whooping cough (pertussis)

A July 20, 2012 news headline reads, “Feds find whooping cough’s increase alarming”  The experts fear that a rising number of whooping cough cases means we face an epidemic. So far this year’s number of cases (18,000 cases) has doubled last year.   

Whooping cough is another very old disease.  It was first recorded over 2 million years ago.  In the past, whooping cough epidemics seem to cycle and occur every four to five years.  Vaccination for whooping cough was developed during the 1940s and the number of cases dropped to less than 5000 U.S cases each year.  During the 1990s the vaccine was changed in an effort to decrease side effects.  The experts at Centers for Disease Control (CDC) question whether the changes in the vaccine decreased its effectiveness or length of its effectiveness.   More information about this news story can be found at http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/feds-find-whooping-coughs-increase-alarming-645472/?print=1 More information about whooping cough next time. 

Old diseases that won't die off

In an effort to discuss news stories in a timely manner, I am finding I may need to add a blog post which is off my topic.  For example, yesterday I discussed that Olympic athletes are ice bathing.  I hope this doesn’t cause any confusion among my readers. 

On Thursday and Saturday I talked about bubonic plague (a very old disease).   We hear about old diseases which continue to make us ill.  Despite our modern technology and all our medical knowledge, these diseases cause problems.  The next few blog posts I will discuss a few old diseases that continue to cause us illness.  Next time I will talk about whooping cough.

In the News--Olympic athletes use ice bath

I am interrupting my usual blogging schedule to discuss an “in the news” phenomenon.  Some of the Olympic athletes are ice bathing (cryotherapy).  Some of them are sharing pictures on Twitter showing them immersed in icy water.  What’s this all about? 

According to Runner’s World.com, “ice baths are one of the most effective ways to offset the damage done on a run.”  The theory behind ice immersion is that cold “constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown.  Once the skin is no longer in contact with the cold source, the underlying tissues warm up, causing a return of faster blood flow, which helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body.”  http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--12810-0,00.html

Cold therapy has been a part of physical therapy practices for many years.  Adding an ice pack to an injury is basic first aid.  However, one source I read, Medicine Net warned that immersing oneself in icy water can shock the body, causing stress to the heart, blood vessels and respiratory system and is “not for everyone.” MedicineNet, http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=154841  I personally think immersing my body into icy water sounds unpleasant. But that’s what some elite athletes are doing to help heal their sore, possibly damaged muscles.  More about this news story can be found at http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/ice-bathing-olympic-tebowing-sure-looks-182939098--oly.html

Treatment for the ancient bubonic plague

Bubonic plague is an ancient disease spread by fleas infected with the Yersinia pestis bacteria.  Modern treatment for bubonic plague involves supportive treatment and antibiotics (treatment not developed until 1928 when Sir Alexander Fleming recognized that germs could not grow around the mold Penicillium.  From this observation and scientific work, our first antibiotic Penicillin was developed). 

The Oregon welder (in our news story) faces the possibility of losing fingers and toes and needing much rehabilitation to regain his health.  My heart goes out to this man and his family as they deal with this health crisis.  After reading this story, I’m thinking fleas (and rodents that carry them) are a situation to be avoided.  More information about this story can be found at http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-man-recovering-rare-case-bubonic-plague-220749129.html  For more suggestions about how to protect ourselves from this very old disease, check out the CDC website, http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/resources/plaguebrochure.pdf

In the News: Oregon man recovering from bubonic plague

A recent (July 18, 2012) news story tells of an Oregon welder who became very ill and almost died of bubonic plague.  He’s still recovering from this ancient bacterial disease spread by fleas.  The exposure to bubonic plague happened when the man was bit on the hand by his cat. The cat was trying to eat a rodent (a flea infested rodent) and began choking.  When the man tried to help the cat, the cat bit him and the bacteria entered his body through the bite.   More information about this story can be found at http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-man-recovering-rare-case-bubonic-plague-220749129.html

History tells us that in 1347 AD, approximately 25 million Europeans died from bubonic plague.   This infectious bacterial disease was called “Black Death” because the person’s skin blackened.  During this Middle Ages epidemic, the plague was spread by fleas found on rats.  More information next time on t treatment for bubonic plague and how our Oregon man’s recovery is going. 

Family time

Family Time

What’s a 125 foot slip and slide got to do with “family time”?  We recently had a fun-filled family reunion at our home.  The 125 ft slip and slide was my husband’s brain child.  What a huge success it was.  The kids loved it and spent three days ‘slip and sliding’.  Several of the adults cast their adult cares aside and joined in the fun.  There was cheers and laughter among those of us who were watching. 

Family time for our families (both sides) is very important to us; we love our times together.  Everyone pitches in with providing meals.  Everyone brings or makes a food dish.  One brother brought 350 crappie fish filets and fried them for Friday night’s fish fry.  (What fish we didn’t eat made great snacks the next day.)  Another brother makes wonderful desserts which we all enjoy.  It’s hard to decide which is best…pineapple upside down cake or chocolate chip pecan pie.  Two nephews were great ‘grillers’.  They didn’t burn a single bratwurst. 

Our family members travelled from San Francisco, New Mexico, Texas and New Jersey to spend time together.  We appreciate their making the journey so we could spend time together.  There was lots of laughs, lots of good food, lots of fun and…you guessed it…lots of slip-n-slide.