[tri-med] Re: Pneumonia - Tess

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jude Wolpert"
>>derk is supposed to get a $75 shot not covered by
> insurance as college students are at high risk...???

Thats probably the third one I mentioned - Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine.
http://www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/communic/factsheets/mening.htm The
risks are greatest in kids under 5 and teenagers / young adults.

Starts out as flu symptoms but there is usually a distinctive rash that also
appears. Once the rash appears they only have hours usually to get
antibiotics started to try and control the blood poisoning that goes with
it, otherwise the person dies.

Its particularly nasty and very fast. One of the problems here has been that
folk would develop nasty flu symptoms but by the time they saw their GP or
even got to see a doctor in an Emergency Room it would be too late. I know
that at our local ER if anyone is triaged with flu like symptoms they are
asked about a rash. If there is any hint of a rash they get priority. A case
where time really is of the essence and hanging around an ER waiting can
make all the difference between life and death. Even when folk have it and
survive they usually end up losing fingers, hands, legs etc

We had a nasty outbreak here locally last winter, just ran straight through
a school. I also had a dear friend almost lose her teenage daughter. She
wasnt at the school though - they think she picked up the bugs from her
casual job at K-Mart. There was also a bad outbreak at one of the local
University's and one of our local football stars contracted it.

There has been a huge media campaign here over recent years to force the
government to supply the vaccine - but it only covers one strain. The
vaccine is expensive though (as you have discovered) and supplies are
limited. So the government here in its wisdom only supplies it for children
under 5 and for teens. Which means Alex isnt covered.

I am not as worried about this one because we follow pretty strict hygiene
with him anyway due to the IGA. But come winter everyone starts watching flu
symptoms and any rash............

I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere.
-- Unknown

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
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          v Karen, Mum to Alex (9 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

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