The White Falcon - 12.11.1993, Page 3

the doc talks
How to manage your child’s chicken pox
By CAPT Marshall P. Hansen
U.S. Naval Hospital Keflavik
We still had about a dozen cases of chicken
pox among the American children here at
Keflavik last month, so in case someone in
your family soon gets chicken pox too, here
are some reassuring facts and helpful hints on
how to best manage this common childhood
virus. You might want to clip and save this
article.
Chicken pox is a highly-contagious but
fortunately mild viral illness usually seen
among younger children from late winter to
mid-summer. Due perhaps to the damp cli-
mate and highly transient population, we
seem to have chicken pox at Keflavik year-
round. The best-known feature of chicken
pox is the rash; numerous clear, itchy water-
filled little blisters on red bases appear first
on the neck and upper torso, then face, scalp,
arms, abdomen, and finally the legs. Each
blister turns into a scab after a few days, but
new blisters keep coming. Fever to 102
degrees Fahrenheit, runny nose, headache,
and mild cough are also common in the first
^Kdays. Everything clears up after about a
^^hicken pox is so contagious that most
persons have already had it by the time they
reach age ten. Improved public sanitation
and smaller family size in recent decades has,
however, lead to an increased number of
adults who still haven’t been exposed to
chicken pox and are therefore susceptible to
it Since the illness is more severe among
adults, especially pregnant women and older
persons, children with chicken pox should
stay home and away from susceptible adults
until all pox sores have turned to dry scabs
(usually after about a week).
If a pregnant woman gets chicken pox
early in the pregnancy, a miscarriage or birth
defects may result If she has chicken pox
when she delivers, the baby may get en-
cephalitis, a serious viral brain infection. In
other adults, chicken pox can lead to pneu-
monia, often requiring hospitalization. If
you are not sure whether you ever had chicken
pox, and especially if you are older or preg-
nant, avoid children with spotty rashes and
coughs.
Ordinary chicken pox in kids is best treated
by keeping the child home, giving Tylenol
for fever and aches, lots of Kleenex for runny
noses and coughs, and daily bathing to keep
all skin sores clean and free from secondary
bacterial infection, which can deepen the
sores and cause scarring. Plain soap and
water is adequate, but deodorant soaps con-
tain mild antiseptics and so are even better.
Soaking in as bath or shower also soothes the
itch caused by the rash. If the itch is severe,
an antihistamine will help, and fingernails
should be trimmed short and kept clean to
minimize scratching.
Most children will not need to see a doctor
or nurse for chicken pox. If you are not sure,
call the clinic first so that, if necessary, we
can arrange to see the child outside the build-
ing or in a separate room. Please do not bring
children with suspected chicken pox into the
building or waiting room, since other suscep-
tible persons may be exposed needlessly.
lyte bytes
The labor of others
By Chaplain James Asparro
According to a legend, a desert wan-
derer found a crystal spring of unsur-
passed freshness. The water was so pure
that he decided to bring some to his king.
Barely satisfying his own thirst, he filled
a leather bottle with the water and carried
it many days beneath the desert sun before
he reached the palace. When he finally
laid his offering at the feet of his sover-
|jgn, the water had become stale because
f the old container in which it had been
Sored. But the king would not let his
faithful subject even imagine that it was
unfit for use. He tasted it with expressions
of gratitude and delight, and the loyal man
went away with a heart filled with glad-
ness. After he had gone, others sampled
the water and expressed their surprise that
the king had even pretended to enjoy it.
“Ah,” said he, “it was not the water I
tasted, but the many days of struggle
beneath the desert sun that brought forth
the offering.”
If you respect the labor of you subordi-
nates with the same wisdom, compassion
and insight as the king, everyone will win.
May God be with you this day.
For most children, chicken pox presents a
good opportunity to stay home and wear
pajamas all day, read books, max out on TV
or video games, learn about what’s in the
garage or attic, build a model, paint by
numbers, etc. If you have further questions,
the clinic can answer them. Call us at ext.
6585, 3384 or after hours in the acute care
clinic at ext. 3300.
9{grtfi Winds Snozv
%y Deborah Carnes
Tie 9{prth Wind is blowing,
And there will be snow e’er long.
It bowls and it moans
about our beads,
It squeaks in the cracks,
wakfs us up in our beds.
*1be snow starts to fall
in the shimmering light;
When we wake, up tomorrow,
all will be white.
The shovels and scrapers
awafe with alarm,
Winter is here boys,
get up now and arm!
We've slept for sbt months,
but now is our time—
The paths must be cleared,
it is our time to shine.
‘Ihe children can't zvait
for school to be out,
To Teadman's" they'll rush,
with a scream and a shout,
Up the hill, down the hill,
up once again,
Soon 9dom will be calling,
'It s time to come in! ”
The snow plow is out,
Two Alpha‘s arrived.
Sent home from work
in our homes we must hide.
Mope we ve got food in,
I don't want to starve;
The Commissary's closed,
and the wind's blowing hard.
Tor the time it is over,
the roads are all clear,
‘'But it will be back soon enough,
don't you fear.
All zvinter long,
the 9{prth Wind zvdl blow,
and time after time
zoe zvillhave snow!
November 12,1993
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