What holiday vacation would be complete without a trip to the pediatrician? It seems every holiday season one or more children, and sometimes the adults, are sick with some sort of cold or condition. This year, was no different.
My youngest son had the typical runny nose, sore throat but, wait, something different—a rash over his entire torso that worsened as I was giving him a bath and getting him ready for bed. My gut reaction was Scarlet Fever.
Up until 5 years ago, I thought Scarlet Fever was something in history books that was eradicated like measles or chicken pox. Having one of my other children experience the itchy sand paper rash, though, I realize it is much more common.
Scarlet Fever is merely Strep Throat with a rash and may occur in children ages 2 – 10. Some of the tell tale signs are a prickly, sand paper like rash on the entire torso, sore throat, yellow coated tongue, fever of 101 degrees and, in the later stages, white peeling fingertips, as my older son experienced.
Scarlet Fever does not always accompany Strep Throat but when it does it can result in complications like middle ear infection, pneumonia and rheumatic fever. An antibiotic gets rid of this bacterial infection.
No two rashes are alike, though, and you can google images of rashes all day on the computer to try to identify what it is. You will come up with scary names like Scarlet Fever, Fifth Disease (Slapped Cheek), Sixth Disease, Hives, Roseola or Impetigo—but, at the end of the day, any of these rashes warrants a visit to the pediatrician so don’t worry yourself over what it might be.
The doctor took a rapid strep test to rule out Scarlet Fever and my son did not have either Strep Throat or Scarlet Fever. He did have an ear infection and culprit of the rash—eczema. He was given an antibiotic and a lot of recommendations for skin care.
“This time of year, with the changes in the temperature and the humidity,” said Dr. Oscar Morffi or Lehigh Valley Pediatric Association, “kid’s skin is sensitive.”
Eczema is an itchy, red rash that results from some sort of trigger, sometimes allergies, asthma and, in this case, hot water drying out the skin.
“Kids with eczema love the bath but a one minute bath every night is better than a 20 minute bath twice a week,” said Dr. Morffi, “The water is soothing but it does more damage than shorter baths.”
The hot baths combined with the dry heat of the fire place at the home we had visited caused the breakout. Dr. Morffi recommended some hydrocortisone cream, much shorter baths and a small dose of Benadryl twice a day. He also recommended using Dove soap for bath time.
Eczema when untreated can lead to scaly, flaky or cracking skin. In the summer, putting on sunscreen does a great deal to lubricate the skin, but, in winter, it is just as important to put a layer of soothing, non-allergenic lotion on your toddler’s skin to avoid these complications. Lesson learned-- moisturize, moisterize, moisterize.
2012年1月3日星期二
2011年11月14日星期一
Going to work sick is bad for business
Your throat is scratchy. You nose is dripping and your head is gently throbbing. You don’t feel ill enough to justify taking a sick day, but you’re far from your regular, healthy, productive self.
Welcome to world of the working wounded, the army of hacking, sneezing, watery-eyed employees who refuse to suffer their cold and flu symptoms lying down – or, at least, safely away from the workplace. While many feel pressured to soldier on with their jobs, there’s a growing consensus that ill employees could be doing more harm than good by reporting for duty.
A recent study from Queen’s University found it costs employers twice as much in productivity losses for employees who come to work while sick than for those who stay at home. Yet the same study showed that 83 per cent of U.S. adult survey participants continued to attend work or school while experiencing flu-like symptoms. The research, funded by a grant from Afexa Life Sciences Inc., the maker of cold remedy COLD-FX, also found one in three Canadian adults have a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month, and one in five ignore their symptoms of illness.
Earlier this year, the temporary staffing company Accountemps released the results of a survey of more than 430 Canadian workers, which revealed people are far more likely to be worried about catching a bug from their ill co-workers than to be impressed by their dedication. Fifty-seven per cent said they feared being exposed to their sick colleagues, and 29 per cent said they were concerned about their ill co-workers’ well-being, compared with 11 per cent who said they would be impressed with them for working while unwell.
But when ill themselves, 51 per cent said they would go to work anyway, compared with 31 per cent who said they would stay at home and take a sick day.
“I think a lot of people feel pressure [to work while sick] because they obviously feel a sense of obligation to their employer,” says Anaar Dewjee, branch manager of Accountemps in Toronto. Some also tend to feel guilty about leaving their co-workers to pick up the slack, or believe that if they show up, they’ll make a better impression on their bosses.
Workers, however, often aren’t as effective on the job when they’re unwell, Ms. Dewjee says. They also risk infecting others, and they may prolong their recovery if they don’t rest up. “It can actually be counter-productive.”
The trouble is, it’s not always clear from one’s symptoms whether an illness warrants time off, and how many sick days one should take.
Many flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, headaches, fever, nasal congestion and muscle aches, can be due to Influenza A, Influenza B, or any number of respiratory viruses, which behave differently, says Doug Sider, acting director for infectious-disease prevention and control at Public Health Ontario.
Further complicating matters, he adds, the severity of one’s symptoms does not necessarily indicate the level of risk for spreading the illness. “If you’ve got mild symptoms, does that mean you’re less infectious? Or if you’ve got more significant symptoms, that you’re more infectious? We’re not always certain about that.”
Ideally, Dr. Sider says people should stay home for at least two to three days when they start feeling ill, as that’s when they’re most infectious. He acknowledges, though, that staying home isn’t always feasible. “There’s a whole series of workplace disincentives for people to do the right thing, in terms of basically isolating themselves when they’re ill,” he says.
Some workplaces, for instance, require employees to obtain a doctor’s note, even though a crowded waiting room while they’re at their most contagious is the last place people should be, Dr. Sider says.
If you absolutely must go to work, he advises practising good respiratory etiquette: frequent hand-washing, coughing into a tissue or sleeve and using alcohol-based hand rubs.
In general, after the first 48 hours, people’s immune systems kick in but they could continue to spread illness for four to five days, says Bhagirath Singh, director of the centre for human immunology the University of Western Ontario. Regardless, they may not feel topnotch for a while.
Typically, a common cold can last around seven days, while the effects of some flu viruses can last several weeks, Dr. Singh says. “Obviously you will still be feeling miserable and terrible, but you won’t be contagious.” Cold comfort.
Welcome to world of the working wounded, the army of hacking, sneezing, watery-eyed employees who refuse to suffer their cold and flu symptoms lying down – or, at least, safely away from the workplace. While many feel pressured to soldier on with their jobs, there’s a growing consensus that ill employees could be doing more harm than good by reporting for duty.
A recent study from Queen’s University found it costs employers twice as much in productivity losses for employees who come to work while sick than for those who stay at home. Yet the same study showed that 83 per cent of U.S. adult survey participants continued to attend work or school while experiencing flu-like symptoms. The research, funded by a grant from Afexa Life Sciences Inc., the maker of cold remedy COLD-FX, also found one in three Canadian adults have a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month, and one in five ignore their symptoms of illness.
Earlier this year, the temporary staffing company Accountemps released the results of a survey of more than 430 Canadian workers, which revealed people are far more likely to be worried about catching a bug from their ill co-workers than to be impressed by their dedication. Fifty-seven per cent said they feared being exposed to their sick colleagues, and 29 per cent said they were concerned about their ill co-workers’ well-being, compared with 11 per cent who said they would be impressed with them for working while unwell.
But when ill themselves, 51 per cent said they would go to work anyway, compared with 31 per cent who said they would stay at home and take a sick day.
“I think a lot of people feel pressure [to work while sick] because they obviously feel a sense of obligation to their employer,” says Anaar Dewjee, branch manager of Accountemps in Toronto. Some also tend to feel guilty about leaving their co-workers to pick up the slack, or believe that if they show up, they’ll make a better impression on their bosses.
Workers, however, often aren’t as effective on the job when they’re unwell, Ms. Dewjee says. They also risk infecting others, and they may prolong their recovery if they don’t rest up. “It can actually be counter-productive.”
The trouble is, it’s not always clear from one’s symptoms whether an illness warrants time off, and how many sick days one should take.
Many flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, headaches, fever, nasal congestion and muscle aches, can be due to Influenza A, Influenza B, or any number of respiratory viruses, which behave differently, says Doug Sider, acting director for infectious-disease prevention and control at Public Health Ontario.
Further complicating matters, he adds, the severity of one’s symptoms does not necessarily indicate the level of risk for spreading the illness. “If you’ve got mild symptoms, does that mean you’re less infectious? Or if you’ve got more significant symptoms, that you’re more infectious? We’re not always certain about that.”
Ideally, Dr. Sider says people should stay home for at least two to three days when they start feeling ill, as that’s when they’re most infectious. He acknowledges, though, that staying home isn’t always feasible. “There’s a whole series of workplace disincentives for people to do the right thing, in terms of basically isolating themselves when they’re ill,” he says.
Some workplaces, for instance, require employees to obtain a doctor’s note, even though a crowded waiting room while they’re at their most contagious is the last place people should be, Dr. Sider says.
If you absolutely must go to work, he advises practising good respiratory etiquette: frequent hand-washing, coughing into a tissue or sleeve and using alcohol-based hand rubs.
In general, after the first 48 hours, people’s immune systems kick in but they could continue to spread illness for four to five days, says Bhagirath Singh, director of the centre for human immunology the University of Western Ontario. Regardless, they may not feel topnotch for a while.
Typically, a common cold can last around seven days, while the effects of some flu viruses can last several weeks, Dr. Singh says. “Obviously you will still be feeling miserable and terrible, but you won’t be contagious.” Cold comfort.
2011年6月26日星期日
Healing Herbals and Brilliant Brews
I was in college when I first stumbled across my "magic miracle drink." I had a vicious cold and was short on money. I couldn't afford to buy Lemsip, which is a cold therapy brand used in the U.K. It comes in pouches of powder that you mix with hot water, tastes delicious (although opinion varies), soothes a sore throat, comforts aching muscles and contains a decongestant. Until then, I had sworn by it. But on this occasion, my nose was running and my cupboard were bare.
I decided that I would have to make do with my own concoction. I sliced up a lemon and threw it into a mug. Then I remembered my boss at the Chinese take-out place I worked during high school. She would drink a steaming mug of grated ginger whenever she had a cold. I grabbed a bag of ginger tea from a long-forgotten herbal tea variety pack hiding at the back of the pantry. Adding a teaspoon of honey, I poured in the boiling water. I waited and stirred and waited again. Then I curled up in bed with the steaming mug warming my hands and took my first sip of this newly invented brew.
Little did I know that my concotion was not very new at all. In fact, it was ancient.
Ginger has been used as a herbal remeby for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese hailed its healing properties more than two thousand years ago, and ginger is still renowened for relieving indigestion as well as cold symptoms such as a sore throat, congestion and sinus pain. Lemon has antiviral properties, and honey has long been used to soothe dagger-throat. Combined, these elements make a cold remedy that is far healthier and tastier than store-bought powders, syrups and goos.
I decided that I would have to make do with my own concoction. I sliced up a lemon and threw it into a mug. Then I remembered my boss at the Chinese take-out place I worked during high school. She would drink a steaming mug of grated ginger whenever she had a cold. I grabbed a bag of ginger tea from a long-forgotten herbal tea variety pack hiding at the back of the pantry. Adding a teaspoon of honey, I poured in the boiling water. I waited and stirred and waited again. Then I curled up in bed with the steaming mug warming my hands and took my first sip of this newly invented brew.
Little did I know that my concotion was not very new at all. In fact, it was ancient.
Ginger has been used as a herbal remeby for thousands of years. The ancient Chinese hailed its healing properties more than two thousand years ago, and ginger is still renowened for relieving indigestion as well as cold symptoms such as a sore throat, congestion and sinus pain. Lemon has antiviral properties, and honey has long been used to soothe dagger-throat. Combined, these elements make a cold remedy that is far healthier and tastier than store-bought powders, syrups and goos.
2011年6月6日星期一
Health-giving plants freely available in the average garden
One famous comic book Gaulish village managed to protect itself from the ancient Romans thanks to a magic potion made from mistletoe. The plant is also used in holistic medicine to treat blood circulation ailments.
Many other plants and herbs have been used over the centuries as medicines and are freely available in many gardens. 'It's worth your while having a closer look in your garden to see if there's something you can use to make a medicinal tea with,' says gardening consultant Sven Goerlitz.
Right at the top of the list of medicinal plants is mint but due to the wide variety of species you must be careful which mint you choose.
'There are a few poisonous varieties as well as a few with very high levels of menthol that can cause stomach irritation,' warns Manfred Fischer from the German body and health care product manufacturer Kneipp-Werke.
One safe variety of mint is Mentha x piperita. 'Research on the plant has shown that its oil can ease digestive system complaints and improve gallbladder function.'
Another medicinal plant is the nettle. 'Some gardeners don't want it because it grows so exuberantly,' says Andrea Danitschek from a consumer group based in Munich.
'But if you cut off a few stems you can make a wonderful tea with them.' The first shoots of the season contain very high amounts of minerals and vitamins. 'Nettle tea is good for the kidneys and helps them filter the blood,' says Fischer.
Wild chamomile is another common plant found in many gardens. 'Made into a tea it can reduce inflammation and ease the cramp of a sore stomach. If applied to a wound it can also speed up healing time and the steam produced while cooking the plant can also ease the symptoms of a cold,' says Fischer.
The flowers of the Yarrow plant is even better at treating cramp and the leaves of the Ribwort Plantain can also help with a cold.
Other useful plants can be found in the kitchen. 'An underestimated herb with healing powers is thyme,' says Danitschek. Thanks to its anti-bacterial properties thyme can help with dealing with a cold.
Sage is another anti-inflammatory herb that will also ease cold symptoms. 'Sage tea is very often used to treat gastritis,' adds Fischer. It also helps to reduce perspiration and is often drunk by women going through the menopause.
A prerequisite to extracting the benefit from a herb, leaf or flower is choosing the right plant. 'That requires specialist knowledge,' warns Ursula Sellerberg from Germany's Pharmacists Association.
For example, Ribwort Plantain is difficult to discern from the Common Plantain. 'You should not walk through a park or forest carelessly picking plants as the risk of making a mistake is very high. Many plants are also under nature protection.'
A better method is to choose which plants you want and then grow them in your own garden. Dried leaves and flowers should be crushed just before making a tea with them.
'That will increase the surface area and the aroma will be stronger,' says Goerlitz. 'If you use fresh plants you will need to use between four and five times the amount,' adds Fischer.
You must use boiling water to make the infusion. 'That's the only way to guarantee that any germs that may be present are killed,' says Danitschek. Medicinal plants can be contaminated with bird excrement or salmonella bacteria.
'Depending on which plant you are using, the steeping time can be between five and ten minutes.'
Although herbal teas can be very beneficial their effects are limited. 'Herb tea is a gentle medicine that can support the healing process,' says Sellerberg. The quantity of plant extract in the tea is not of a very high concentration and its medicinal effects can only go so far.
The herbs and flowers used to make herbal teas can also be stored. They should be dry at the time of picking and can be dried further in an oven or by leaving them in the open air.
Many other plants and herbs have been used over the centuries as medicines and are freely available in many gardens. 'It's worth your while having a closer look in your garden to see if there's something you can use to make a medicinal tea with,' says gardening consultant Sven Goerlitz.
Right at the top of the list of medicinal plants is mint but due to the wide variety of species you must be careful which mint you choose.
'There are a few poisonous varieties as well as a few with very high levels of menthol that can cause stomach irritation,' warns Manfred Fischer from the German body and health care product manufacturer Kneipp-Werke.
One safe variety of mint is Mentha x piperita. 'Research on the plant has shown that its oil can ease digestive system complaints and improve gallbladder function.'
Another medicinal plant is the nettle. 'Some gardeners don't want it because it grows so exuberantly,' says Andrea Danitschek from a consumer group based in Munich.
'But if you cut off a few stems you can make a wonderful tea with them.' The first shoots of the season contain very high amounts of minerals and vitamins. 'Nettle tea is good for the kidneys and helps them filter the blood,' says Fischer.
Wild chamomile is another common plant found in many gardens. 'Made into a tea it can reduce inflammation and ease the cramp of a sore stomach. If applied to a wound it can also speed up healing time and the steam produced while cooking the plant can also ease the symptoms of a cold,' says Fischer.
The flowers of the Yarrow plant is even better at treating cramp and the leaves of the Ribwort Plantain can also help with a cold.
Other useful plants can be found in the kitchen. 'An underestimated herb with healing powers is thyme,' says Danitschek. Thanks to its anti-bacterial properties thyme can help with dealing with a cold.
Sage is another anti-inflammatory herb that will also ease cold symptoms. 'Sage tea is very often used to treat gastritis,' adds Fischer. It also helps to reduce perspiration and is often drunk by women going through the menopause.
A prerequisite to extracting the benefit from a herb, leaf or flower is choosing the right plant. 'That requires specialist knowledge,' warns Ursula Sellerberg from Germany's Pharmacists Association.
For example, Ribwort Plantain is difficult to discern from the Common Plantain. 'You should not walk through a park or forest carelessly picking plants as the risk of making a mistake is very high. Many plants are also under nature protection.'
A better method is to choose which plants you want and then grow them in your own garden. Dried leaves and flowers should be crushed just before making a tea with them.
'That will increase the surface area and the aroma will be stronger,' says Goerlitz. 'If you use fresh plants you will need to use between four and five times the amount,' adds Fischer.
You must use boiling water to make the infusion. 'That's the only way to guarantee that any germs that may be present are killed,' says Danitschek. Medicinal plants can be contaminated with bird excrement or salmonella bacteria.
'Depending on which plant you are using, the steeping time can be between five and ten minutes.'
Although herbal teas can be very beneficial their effects are limited. 'Herb tea is a gentle medicine that can support the healing process,' says Sellerberg. The quantity of plant extract in the tea is not of a very high concentration and its medicinal effects can only go so far.
The herbs and flowers used to make herbal teas can also be stored. They should be dry at the time of picking and can be dried further in an oven or by leaving them in the open air.
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