The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Tuesday, September 15, 2009 — 13
NATION
Study: Beware of bacteria-laden shower heads n Main
concern is for those who ahave diminished immune systems
Soon-to-be kindergartners rub hand sanitizer on their hands before going to lunch at a summer school program in Montgomery County’s Brookhaven Elementary School, in Rockville, Md. in July.
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID AP Science Writer
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — In what may be the scariest shower news since Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” a study says shower heads can harbor tiny bacteria that come spraying into your face when you wash. People with normal immune systems have little to fear, but these microbes could be a concern for folks with cystic fibrosis or AIDS, people who are undergoing cancer treatment or those who have had a recent organ transplant. Researchers at the University of Colorado tested 45 showers in five states as part of a larger study of the microbiology of air and water in homes, schools and public buildings. They report their shower findings in Tuesday’s edition of Proceedings of the more deadly than regular flu, sign of a possible bacterial infec- National Academy of Sciences. which kills 36,000 Americans a tion. In general, is it dangerous to take showers? year and hospitalizes 200,000. Q: What are emergency signs “Probably not, if your immune system is not comBut swine flu does sicken the for an adult? promised in some way,” lead author Norman R. young much more frequently A: Difficulty breathing, pain Pace says. “But it’s like anything else — there is a than the old, and it spreads or pressure in the chest of abdo- risk associated with it.” very easily, especially in crowdmen, dizziness, confusion, severe The researchers offer suggestions for the wary, ed schools. A University of vomiting or a rebound fever. such as getting all-metal shower heads, which Washington study found the typQ: Won’t I or my child need microbes have a harder time clinging to. ical sick school student infects those anti-flu medicines, Still, shower heads are full of nooks and crannies, two to three classmates — so Tamiflu or Relenza? making them hard to clean, the researchers note, keep sick kids at home. A: No, most won’t, stresses and the microbes come back even after treatment The sad reality: You can be CDC’s Schuchat. Most people with bleach. contagious up to 24 hours before will recover with rest and fluids People who have filtered shower heads could you show symptoms, one reason — don’t get dehydrated. replace the filter weekly, added co-author Laura flu spreads so easily. But people at high risk should K. Baumgartner. And, she said, baths don’t splash Q: Who’s at highest risk of make a plan with their docmicrobes into the air as much as showers, which severe illness or even death? tor now, before they’re sick, blast them into easily inhaled aerosol form. A: Children under 5. Pregnant Schuchat advises. They may It doesn’t seem as frightening as the famous women. People 65 or older. And need Tamiflu within the first 48 murder-in-the-shower scene in Hitchcock’s classic people of any age with asthma hours of symptoms, and some 1960 movie. But it’s something to be reckoned with or other lung disorders; diabedoctors may agree to an advance all the same. tes; heart, kidney, liver or blood prescription if they promise to The bugs in question are Mycobacterium avium, disorders; neurodevelopmental call with symptoms — saving which have been linked to lung disease in some disorders such as cerebral palsy; time and exposing others in the people. or a weakened immune system. waiting room. Indeed, studies by the National Jewish Hospital Q: I think I had swine flu Q: How long should sick kids in Denver suggest increases in pulmonary infecover the summer. Do I still stay out of school or day care? tions in the United States in recent decades from need the vaccine? A: For 24 hours after the fever species like M. avium may be linked to people takA: Yes, says CDC flu specialbreaks naturally, not because of ing more showers and fewer baths, according to ist Dr. Anne Schuchat. Other fever-reducing medicine. And Pace. viruses mimic flu so it’s hard to never give a child aspirin, only Symptoms of infection can include tiredness, a be sure what you had. non-aspirin fever reducers. For a persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakQ: How does swine flu affect child under 5, ask a doctor first ness and “generally feeling bad,” he said. children,Forest and what symptoms about type and People_1.833inx3in dose. Shower heads were sampled City Daily Courier_Rutherford County Page 1 ofat1houses, apartment should prompt a race to the You’re considered more conbuildings and public places in New York, Illinois, pediatrician? tagious while feverish. But Colorado, Tennessee and North Dakota. A: Symptoms are the same children especially can be contaThe researchers sampled water flowing from the regardless of age: Fever, aches, gious for over a week, so doctors shower heads, then removed them, swabbed the cough, sore throat, sneezing or say use common sense — stay interiors of the devices and separately sampled runny nose, sometimes diarrhea home if you’re still sick after the water flowing from the pipes without the shower and vomiting. fever breaks. heads. The CDC says to seek immediQ: Is it true that not everyone They found that the bacteria tended to build up ate care if a child has difficulty gets a fever? in the shower head, where they were much more breathing or is breathing fast, A: Yes. There are no good esti- common than in the incoming feed water. turns bluish, isn’t drinking mates although the CDC thinks enough fluids, has severe vomitit’s not too common. ATTENTION RUTHERFORD COUNTY ing, is hard to wake up or lethargic, or is so irritable the child Q: Someone’s sick in my RESIDENTS A NEW AND DEPENDABLE doesn’t want to be held. office. How long until I know TRASH REMOVAL SERVICE WILL BE Also seek care if the fever if I caught it? breaks and then later returns, A: Up to a week. AVAILABLE SOON!
Swine flu questions, answers By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON — Flu season’s in full swing two months early this year — and nearly all the cases are the new swine flu strain that so far is targeting mostly children and younger adults. That doesn’t mean older people are off the hook. They sometimes catch swine flu. Also, we could see a one-two punch when regular flu strains start circulating as the weather gets colder. You probably won’t know which kind you have. Very few people will get the specialized testing to tell. That doesn’t matter — treatment’s the same for both. Here are answers to some questions about what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts will be a busy and long flu season. Q: Where’s the vaccine, and how many shots will I need? A: Many people will need to line up twice. One vaccine protects against regular winter flu, and that vaccine’s available now. A separate vaccine to protect against swine flu — the 2009 H1N1 strain — will arrive in October. It appears that adults will need one dose of that vaccine; dose studies are under way in children to see if they’ll need a booster. Q: Why couldn’t both kinds be put into one shot? A: Bad timing. Swine flu didn’t burst onto the scene until April, after manufacturers had already begun brewing this fall’s regular flu vaccine and too late to add into that mix. Q: How does swine flu compare to regular flu strains? A: So far it doesn’t seem any
Do you need vaccine? Check here By The Associated Press Who needs vaccine against regular winter flu, and who should be first in line for the swine flu shot? There’s lots of overlap. Regular flu vaccine is available now, and people who need it most include: n Adults 50 and older. n All children age 6 months to 18 years. n Pregnant women. n People of any age with chronic health problems like asthma, heart disease or a weakened immune system. n Health workers.
n Caregivers to the high-risk, including babies younger than 6 months. Don’t like shots? There’s a nasal spray version of the vaccine, called FluMist, available for people ages 2 to 49. Once the swine flu vaccine starts arriving next month, the government says first in line will be: n Pregnant women. n The young, from age 6 months up through age 24. n Health workers. n Younger and middle-aged adults with those chronic health conditions.
Points To Ponder
Verne’s Waste Removal Service will be offering three types of services. 1. Street Side Pick-up, once per week for $18.00 per month. 2. Back Door Pick-up, once per week for $20.00 per month. 3. Removal of larger items such as furniture, debris, etc. at a negotiable price.
For more information please call Verne at 828-305-0287 or 828-657-1823 Forest City Daily Courier Rutherford County People 1.833in. x 3in.
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