E Coli outbreak linked to Cookie Dough

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a news item concerning an e coli outbreak.  This outbreak is linked to raw refrigerated, prepackaged cookie dough. The public is being warned not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7.  Twenty-nine states have report suspected cases, 5 cases in Illinois.  Twenty-three cases have been confirmed.  For the entire CDC news bulletin, go to http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2009/0619.html.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also issued a news release concerning the outbreak (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm167908.htm).

Itsy Bittsy Spiders?

Now that the warm weather is here, many of us are out in our yards gardening, sitting on a lawn chair reading, or barbecuing.  Kids are rolling in the grass or  running around in the grass, through the sprinklers, through the bushes, etc.  One of the hidden dangers in our yards, parks, and forest preserves are spiders. More than 500 kinds of spiders in live in Illinois.  Some are harmless, others are poisonous.  The most dangerous are the brown spiders and widow spiders.  The Illinois Department of Public Health has a wonderful page at http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcspiders.htm that discribes different types of spiders and has color images of each spider for identification.

Depending on the type of spider, a spider bite can cause chills, itching, fever, nausea, and sweating.  If you are experience severe symptons seek immediate medical attention.  In rare cases, a spider bite can cause coma, blood in the urine, jaundice, kidney failure, or seizures.  Deaths, in children, from a brown recluse spider bite have been reported.

When in doubt, you can always call Illinois Poison Control (http://www.mchc.org/ipc/) at 1-800-222-1222.

For more information on spiders and their bites:

• Spider Bite. Children’s Hospital of Illinois
  
• Brown recluse spider. MedlinePlus
• Black Widow spider. MedlinePlus
• Spider bite fact sheet.  KidsHealth.org

Sunny Days, Burning Skin

Winter is over and the warmth of the Spring sun is bekoning us outside.  Even though it is only Spring and the air is still cool, the sun can still burn.  It is a good time to think about skin protection and keeping safe under the Summer sun.

Fun in the Sun Safety Tips:

• Wear sunscreen! Look for sunscreen that is SPF 15 or more,
  protects against both UVA and UVB, and is waterproof.  Read the directions carefully.  Apply 15-20 before you go out and re-apply frequently.
• Be aware of the amount of time you spend in the sun.  More time, more damage.
• Wear reflective clothing.  Wear hats with wide brims and long sleeves, especially if you are “sun sensitive.”
• Protect your eyes.  Sun not only can damage your skin but it can also damage your eyes.  Look for sun glasses that block both forms of UV radiation.

For more sun safety tips:

• Sun Safety: Save your Skin!  Food and Drug Administration
• Sun Safety. Nemours Foundation.  Sun safety tips for kids.
• Play It Safe in the Sun: A Guide for Parents.  Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Sun Exposure.  MedlinePlus

West Nile Virus 2009

After a long and very cold winter here in Chicago, spring is finally here! Or so they tell us.  This years cold, very rain spring has the potential to produce millions of mosquitos that could carry the West Nile Virus (WNV).

According to the CDC, the chance of becoming ill from a single mosquito bite is low.  However, in about 80% of cases, there are no symptoms of the disease. It is more common for adults over 50 to contract the disease. Potential symptoms are fever, headache, body ache, nausea or vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes.

To prevent mosquito bites, adults should wear an insect repellent containing up to 35% DEET from dawn until dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Children from 2 months to 12 years should use repellents containing up to 10% DEET and babies less than 2 months old SHOULD NOT use a repellent containing DEET. When used according to manufactures directions, these mosquito repellents are safe. You can also wear long sleeved shirts and pants or use mosquito netting while sleeping outside and to protect small babies.

Once a week, you should also drain standing water around your home to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. Install or repair screens in doors or windows.  Report dead birds to your local health department, birds can carry and multiply the disease. You can get information on contacting your local health department through the Health-E Illinois website. Search under West Nile Virus and your local health department will be listed under Public Health Services.

For information on WNV in Illinois, visit Illinois Department of Public Health’s West Nile Virus home page (http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm). They have posters available as well as audio clips with lots of information on the virus. The IDPH has issued its first WNV news release and will continue to monitor WNV cases throughout the summer.

Also see information at Medline Plus (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/westnilevirus.html) or at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm)

Understanding Medical Terminology

When you go to your doctor, do you feel like he/sh is speaking in a foreign language?  Having trouble reading about your own health issues because you do not understand most of the medical words?  Medical terminology can be daunting.  The National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus database has a new tutorial that will help you to understand common medical terminology.  The tutorial entitled Understanding Medical Words: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine is located at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medicalwords.html.  You will need to have the latest version of Flash Player (downloadable free) on your computer to view the tutorial.  If you cannot view it on your home computer, check your local library.  You should be able to view it on their computers.

Here are some other sites that will help you understand medical words.

• Cancer and Medical Terminology.  National Cancer Institute
• Understanding Medical Terminology. Genetics Home Reference. National Library of Medicine
• Dictionary of Medical Terms. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia. American Heart Association
• WORD! A Glossary of Medical Words. KidsHealth.org
• Kid Friendly Medical Dictionary. PBS.org

If you want a book on medical terminalogy, check with your local public library.  The librarian will be able to help you find an appropriate text.