Category: Infection & Disease Control

Whooping Cough: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a bacterial infection that gets into your nose and throat. It spreads very easily, but vaccines like DTaP and Tdap can help prevent it in children and adults. Symptoms At first, whooping cough has the same symptoms as the average cold: Mild coughing Sneezing Runny nose Low fever (below 102 F) You may also have diarrhea early on. After about 7-10 days, the cough turns into “coughing spells” that end with a whooping sound as the person tries to breathe in air. Because the cough is dry and doesn’t produce mucus, these spells can last up to 1 minute. Sometimes it can cause your face to briefly …

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  By Doris Dimmitt, Hospital Epidemiologist at Carson Tahoe Health   Now come on, you really didn’t think we could go without a good ol’ GI outbreak in the community for very long, did you?  It happens almost every year.  We are busy gearing up for influenza season by getting our flu shots and WHAM it hits us from out of nowhere!  This is also a time of year when I hear a lot of rumors going around about the flu shot causing the flu, so let’s take a look at our influenza vs. GI viral infection fact checker. Remember, influenza is a respiratory infection. Sore throat, high fever, coughs, and horrible body aches    (even your hair hurts). The flu …

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  With the weather warming up, rattlesnakes are beginning to come out of their dens. Several sightings of these slithering were reported last week near Prison Hill, Ash Canyon and Jacks Valley. So, be on the lookout for these venomous serpents while out and about to protect yourself, your children and pets. If bitten, you should get medical help immediately. While waiting for medical help, here are some general do’s and don’ts to keep in mind… DO: Scene safety. Retreat out of the striking distance of the snake. Keep yourself and the patient calm. Remove constricting clothing and jewelry. As with any bite wound, wash with soap and water. Splint the extremity. Avoid elevating the injury. Avoid any harmful and …

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Doris Dimmitt, Hospital Epidemiologist at Carson Tahoe Health, shares the latest Zika Virus news, and some helpful tips for protecting yourself and your family. You could hardly tell by the crazy weather we’ve had this month, but it’s time to start protecting ourselves from mosquitoes by “fighting the bite” again. Unfortunately, species of mosquitoes known to carry malaria, Encephalitis, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, Chikunya, Dog heartworm, and Zika Virus are continuing to move north. And as you know, Zika is the latest mosquito borne illness to make the evening news. What are the symptoms of Zika Virus? Most people with the Zika Virus don’t have any symptoms – no fever, nausea, diarrhea, purple spots or hair loss…nothing. In the few patients …

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We spend a lot of time and money avoiding or ridding our bodies of bacteria. However, the human body is home to trillions of different bacteria—in fact, bacteria outnumber human cells 10 to one. Probiotics are microorganisms found in food and supplements that mimic the healthy bacteria that already live inside us. Before you start using probiotics, consider these tips from the American Gastroenterological Association: • Know your needs. Are you looking for help with a specific medical condition?  When choosing a probiotic, keep in mind certain strains of bacteria may be more suited for your circumstances. Additionally, think about whether you would rather have probiotics as part of your diet or in supplement, powder, or liquid form. • Check …

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