Apparently Tom *does* have the plague

[jeriendhal]

More specifically a nasty bacterial infection called Shigella, which is so infectious that Tracy got a call from the county health department asking her to take soem additional samples of Tom's emissions to keep track of the thing.

Sighs.

Comments

[skivee.livejournal.com]

So who do you know that has a child with similar symptoms?
Some kid isn't practicing good hygene and young Tom is paying the price.

[aynne-witch.livejournal.com]

shigella is one of the most heinously infectious problems around - it just takes contact with someone who doesn't wash their hands one time before touching the kid, the food the kid eats, sharing a glass of water with someone who has the infection, prep'ing food on a surface touched by someone with the bacteria on their hands, hand to hand - and its not just a Kid problem - its a big issue in restaurants and grocery stores - anywhere that food or water can be contaminated - even a swimming or wading pool, irrigation water.....

when I worked in clinic and kids came in with it, the first thing everyone pointed to was 'other kids, school, etc...' the problem is that if an adult in the home is carrying the bacteria and is not thorough with hand washing it can pass. you don't have to have symptoms to be a carrier. In some cases it goes person to in very young children when you 'change one, give your hands a pass over with even a completely fresh diaper wipe and change the next'.

once its in the environment with someone, its a pain in the arse from another angle to get rid of because it is stubborn - 10% bleach solution - wipe down all surfaces - clear out the fridge and do the inside - steam clean the upholstered furniture and carpets

if his bacteria load in the samples the county health gets is bad enough - be prepared - likely they are going to want to inspect the house, the school and everything else under the sun. Possibly anyone who has been in the house within the last 4 weeks will be checked for carrier status.

[skivee.livejournal.com]

Aynne witch, thanks.
I was painting with too broad a brush in my post.
In any case, let's hope Tom kicks this bugs soon.

[aynne-witch.livejournal.com]

now that they know what it is for certain, if it looks like its not going to resolve quickly they now have the list of recommended antibiotics for this to fall back on - yay!

the reason for the scrub down is that in can take only 10 bacteria cells to pass the infection - so 'it looks clean enough' will not be the 'right answer' for a bit.

some people contact it and never know - some get over it in a week or so - some have weeks to months of complications - some are carriers with no other effects

sometimes its dirty irrigation water and raw veggies - oh joy!

we can hope that young Master Tom has a short course and no one else in the house gets it

[jvowles.livejournal.com]

Yikes.

Time to break out the bleach and completely scrub down the house....

[nara-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh, ow. Shigella is one of the nasties. Not a happy fun thing to have at all. At least you know what it is, and it is treatable (self-limited, techinically, but that's just mean, not to mention not recommended). Hope he feels better soon!

(P.S. Ditto on the bleach.)