Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

[trayletha]

OK - maybe I'm over thinking this but the Virginia Department of Health had been investigating the deaths of five children last month. The kids were all "not very" sick and healthy otherwise, but all had upper respiratory problems which were originally thought to be colds or the flu. Did anyone else hear about this?

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I have to admit I am really nervous. I work in a hospital and just had contact with an individual that had respiratory symptoms. I used all the precautions and changed immediately after, but I have to admit this has me really scared this time.

I didn't hear about SARS until this morning, I read about it tonight from an MSNBC story and what scared me the most was statistics on world wide viral diseas that cycle about every 30 years. the last one was 1968, and it said that the health community feared that we are overdue.


Here is the link to the story.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/885653.asp

I have to admit I am getting worn out worrying about war, terrorism, our local bomb builder, money, and now this unknown very serious illness.

 

[FergieTCat]

I just had a strep throat/ear infection/respiratory congestion for the second time in my life; the first time was 20 years go. I've heard that it's "going around" this year. And yes, I had a flu shot in October.

I don't think that terrorists would bother spreading an illness that just makes you feel crappy for a week, but maybe our systems are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

 

[Wendy]

Very, very scary. My 7 year old is currently battling pneumonia, which the doctors think is viral. He has not responded to the antibiotics. It began with what the doctor said was most likely a viral flu, (he was cultured for the normal flu strains and it came back negative) and a few days later he developed the pneumonia. His symptoms sound exactly like what was described in the article. I think I'll call the pediatrician in the morning and ask about this. Luckily, he is getting better and can hopefully go back to school midweek if he continues to improve.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Oh I heard about it. The very same night DD got sick and had the same symptoms the first 5 children died of. The news had no info as to why the children had died when they released the story. It scared me half to death!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I posted something on Sat about this,
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=342997
but don't see anything about 5 children. Where is a link to that?
Is it the same thing? Or potentially the same?

 

[trayletha]

I found a story on the childrens deaths - now it looks like 14 children and not just in VA

http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw0223dea.html

But I have'nt heard or seen anything about a link between these deaths and SARS.

 

[tnkrbell]

Omg!! That is sooooo scarey!!!!!!!!! I had not heard about the children!! It sounds similar to the other disease going around in Asia! I am Very concerned!!!!! Im even worried about going to Disney In May since there are sooo many people from all over teh word in one place. Boy we sure do have too much to worry about dont we!!

 

[Blondie]

WHO assesses data on mystery illness.

 

[Liz]

This scares the heck out of me. After getting a major education in how bad infections can be this last year, I realize its not something that can always be controlled with medication and it can run rampant through someone's body.