“Respiratory season”. I am not sure if this is a phenomenon related specifically to pediatrics, but I suspect not. It has a lovely ring to it, what with the “season” tacked on to the end, but it is not nearly so lovely as say the “Christmas season” or the “Swimsuit season”. Well, maybe for those of us who have gained a few pounds, it might rank near the swimsuit season… Basically, you have a bunch of those germ bags we affectionately call children, and they all have snotty noses. Not that I am calling anyone a snotty-nosed brat, but in some cases, the description is apt.
As this is my first respiratory season (RS), I have no way of knowing if my fellow healthcare providers are pulling my leg when they tell me this year is not typical. Sort of like new-comers to Colorado hearing that last winter with its mega-loads of snow was not typical. I guess I will just have to go on faith here. According to the experts, RS lasts from December through April. We started seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses in November, so the question is, do we get credit for starting early, so we can end early as well? Probably not, but it never hurts to ask!
I personally have already had two colds since working in the ED. The second one has hung on for about 5 weeks. It came complete with a week of laryngitis and two rounds of pink eye. Even with lots, and I do mean lots, of hand washing and vitamin C, I was no match for a pint sized punk intent on sharing. (Isn’t that what we teach our young ones, it is better to give than to receive?) So, for some tips on resisting RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) as well as other problematic pests, check out the TCH RS newsletter: http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/news/pr/2007news/respiratory-season.aspx
Good luck!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment