Mysterious Illness in Cambodia

An article in Chicago Tribune
by Rosemarie Francisco
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-cambodia-diseasebre8620dg-20120703,0,1069237.story

An Investigation by World Health Organization (WHO) into an unknown disease that has killed at least 60 children under age 7 since April of 2012. Mostly occurring in Southern Cambodia.

Symptoms of high fever, swelling around the brain and respiratory symptoms, the children deteriorate due to difficulty breathing. Symptoms usually related to pneumonia.

The WHO is working with the Cambodia Ministry of Health and other countries to find the cause and source of this disease. The WHO must continue to research the disease
to determine the cause.

Readers planning to travel to Camodia or South Vietnam can help protect themselves with frequent hand washing, using soap and hot water and using sanitary hand wipes
for wiping down surfaces in hotel room and other frequently touched areas, like airline seat trays and door handles.

Drink water only from sealed water bottles or travel with a water bottle & water filter system. Avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables, eating them only steamed or cooked.

Because the majority of these cases are in children under age 11, pay close attention to any fever or change in mental status if traveling to this region with small children.

Seek medical attention as soon as possible if any of these symptoms occur.

Safe travels,

Nurse G

Make your personal travel health routine habit Travel Health; Four Steps for Guarding your Health- Step 3

Article 3 of 4 Travel Health stages; Four Stages to protect your health during travel
Stage Three; Make Your Personal Health Travel routine and Strategies a Habit.
Using your favorite travel health products and prevention before, during and after your flight is important to support your health and increase your comfort. Frequently washing your hands may help prevent catching the dreaded "airplane cold."
Make a habit of wiping down surfaces when first sitting down on an airline flight, or other travel transportation. Using handiwipes that kill bacteria.

When you arrive in your hotel room the following strategies could be added to your health routine and may help support your health,
preventing travel illness. Carry a My Travel Health Kit®. A convenient travel kit designed by a Registered Nurse, full of FDA Approved Over-the-Counter medications for illness. or

If you decide to put together your own comfort medication kit, then here is a list of medications that can be purchased over the counter and what the medications are used for when not feeling well.
Medicine

ACHES & PAINS, FEVER, HEADACHES
Acetaminophen
Temporary relief of pain, Headaches, Fever reducer

Ibuprofin
Temporary relief of Pain, Headaches Fever reducer

Tri-Buffered Aspirin
Temporary Pain, Headache, Prevention

COLD, FLU & COUGH
Sinus Decongestant
Temporary relief of sinus congestion & pressure
Diphenhydramine
Temporary relief of Allergy
STOMACH UPSET AILMENTS
Aluminum hydroxide
Cherry flavored Temporary relief of acid indigestion, sour stomach,
Magnesium hydroxide
cherry flavored Temporary relief of acid indigestion, sour stomach

TOPICAL &PREVENTION
Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Temporary relief of minor cuts & scrapes
Hydrocortisone Cream 1% Temporary relief of itching associated with minor skin irritations like bug bites or rashes.
Moleskin Temporary relief of pre or post blisters on feet

Good for you for taking steps to prevent illness. Keep up the good habits! Thanks for reading Nurse Guardian Blog. Feedback is always welcome. Stay Healthy, Nurse G Copyright Nurse Guardian,pllc. Use with Permission.

Hand washing 5 Easy Steps May Prevent Flu or Travel Illness (kids)

Fight the Flu Virus with these 5 Hand washing steps. My son came down the hall with a red bandana on his head waving a plastic sword. “Aarrggh!” he shouted. “Would you play pirates with me mom?” As I picked up a broom to use the handle as my sword for the pirates duel, it made me think about how parents must protect their children during flu season like pirates protect their treasure. When Fighting the Flu or Influenza Virus this season here are some easy tips protect your family and what to do if you or someone in your family does get the Flu or the Influenza A H1N1, Influenza A H3N2, this season. The CDC , Center for Disease Control, has characterized 61 influenza viruses [nine 2009 influenza A (H1N1), 42 influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and 10 influenza B viruses] collected by U.S. laboratories since October 1, 2011. Courtesy of the CDC. The first step in protecting your family is hand washing. Hand washing is THE best way to prevent the spread of viruses. Considering what children touch during the day, teach them the steps to thorough hand washing. They can continue to use this technique even when they are at school. Teach your family members the 5 steps to good hand washing; First : Turn on the water and wet your hands, front and back. Make the water as hot as possible, being careful not too hot for young hands. Second: Soap your hands making a spider shape with your fingers intertwining each other. This allows the soap to cover all surfaces of the hands. Third: Scrub the soap on your hands for at least 20-30 seconds. The nature of germs is that they are sticky. Soap creates a slippery surface, the scrubbing loosens the sticky germs. Twenty seconds may seem like a long time for a child. During those twenty seconds, encourage the singing of “Happy Birthday” or another Nursery Rhyme. Once the 20 seconds is up, complete the 4th and 5th steps. Fourth: rinse off the soap pointing fingers down to the bottom of the sink. Remind your child not to touch the sides or bottom of the sink. Fifth: With the water still running, the last step is the" two towel step." Dry your hands with a paper towel. Throw the paper towel in the trash. Next, grab a second paper towel and turn off the running water with the dry towel. Toss the second paper towel in the trash. Turning the water off with a clean paper towel will further decrease the spread of germs. When soap and water is not readily available, give your child liquid hand sanitizer to use at school. The liquid hand sanitizer never replaces good hand washing, but can kill germs in between hand washing. Having clean hands and clean surfaces around the home decreases the spread of germs. Buy a disinfectant spray that states it will kill Influenza germs. Spray surfaces around your home that your family frequently touches ; the door knobs, the refrigerator door handle, sinks and kitchen counter tops and toys. Keeping the home, or "pirate ship" disinfected may help the family to stay afloat on the high seas of health, keeping your pirates at their posts like school or work. Disinfectant spray may not protect you from getting the flu, but it may help prevent the flu in your home this season. “ Gotcha’ Mom!” my son shouted as he jabbed his red plastic sword between my arm and my side. We flopped down on the couch laughing. The steps outlined are like sword of prevention from the Flu Virus, steps to protect our little treasures.