Entry bubble Antibiotics

By: Joanne | October 14, 2008 | Category: Health

Technician Looking at Petri DishMy daughter was sick this week. Because she had a fever for a few days and a persistent sore throat, we thought we better take her to the doctor to see if she had an infection and needed an antibiotic. The doctor did a strep test and it looks like her discomfort is just the result of the virus, so no antibiotic for her.

Remember that antibiotics aren’t miracle drugs that cure everything. They’re not going to help a virus like a cold or flu or even most sore throats. But if you’ve got a bacterial infection, like strep throat, an antibiotic should do the trick.

Winter is coming and we’ll have plenty of illness to go with it. It’s important that we’re all smart about antibiotic usage, and we only use them when it’s appropriate. If we misuse antibiotics, we run the risk of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics normally work by killing bacteria but if you use the wrong antibiotic or don’t take the full course, you might not kill all the bacteria. They grow and spread and now they're harder to kill.

The more often you use an antibiotic, the more likely it is that the germs will resist it. This can make some diseases very hard to control, like MRSA. So try to stay well this winter and remember that if you don’t have a bacterial infection, forget about the antibiotics! Turn to over-the-counter medications to ease your symptoms, or rely on good old home remedies like tea with honey, which is my favorite. What’s yours?

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Entry bubble Lyme Disease

By: Colleen | June 11, 2008 | Category: Health

I'm a big fan of limes. They are a fabulous garnish on some of my bug sprayfavorite cocktails and add a wonderful zing to my tacos.

However, there is another lyme that isn’t nearly as fun. Lyme disease is a bacterial disease carried by ticks. Most often it has symptoms similar to that of the flu. Usually, but not always, a red bull's-eye rash is a sure sign of Lyme disease.

This time of the year, with so much outdoor activity, it is much more common to get Lyme disease. It is important to avoid areas where ticks are prevalent. Check your pet's fur often to be sure they aren't carrying ticks. Use a bug spray with DEET to repel ticks.

There is no cure for Lyme disease, but if caught early, it is easily treated with antibiotics.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: antibiotic   colleen   disease   lyme   rash   tick  

 

Entry bubble MRSA: It Can Happen Here

By: Joanne | January 15, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

I pulled the letter from my daughter’s backpack after school one day. It was from the school superintendent and informed parents that there have been 3 recent cases of MRSA in our school district. MRSA, aka, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the antibiotic resistant staph infection.

My reaction? Level 4 biohazard! Do they make hazmat suits in children’s sizes? Pull her out of school! Decontaminate my home every night? Should I lock her in a bubble and never let her enter the germ factories that we call elementary schools, hospitals and let’s face it, any other public place?

biohazard symbol

What’s a mom to do? I want to protect my kids, but dirt, viruses, and bacteria are all part of life here on planet Earth. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has the answers for me – their page about MRSA In Schools has all I need to know.

The CDC says the same stuff that the letter from school did – cover wounds, wash your hands, and don’t share clothing or towels that come into contact with your skin. OK, so maybe this doesn’t have to be so crazy after all. I’ll make sure that we’re well supplied with hello kitty Band-Aids and encourage the kids to wash their hands frequently. I come from a long line of women who wash their hands to an almost obsessive-compulsive degree, so I can totally get into the clean hands thing.

Lastly I’ll say that if you have to use antibiotics, use them as directed to help ensure their effectiveness, and have you washed your hands lately?

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: antibiotic   infection   joanne   mrsa   resistant   school   staph