Shanksteps 92
For you medical people out there: What would be your differential diagnosis for an 18 month-old that presents to clinic with conjunctivitis (pink eye), sore throat, and cough? What if I told you that her dad had been in the hospital about 3 weeks before with similar symptoms and was still not feeling well? After 2 days this little girl developed what looked like heat rash on her face and trunk. Of course your initial diagnosis would be to put her in isolation with the Measles. How many of you
out there have even seen a case of the Measles? It was a new one to me. Fortunately (or unfortunately) some of our nurses have seen several Measles epidemics in their lifetimes and recognized it right away.  So, let’s review the fact about Measles. It is a virus. There is a great vaccine against it (that this child, and the subsequent 4 kids that came in, all received). There is no real treatment for it except Vitamin A and tincture of time. It has a 90% transmission rate to those susceptible
(not vaccinated/not immune).  It is contagious for 2 days before symptoms appear and 4 days after they disappear. It is a VERY scary disease because there is really nothing that can be done once the symptoms appear. We now have 4 kids in the hospital from 3 DIFFERENT villages. The 18 month-old girl died 3 days after arrival. The country considers it an epidemic if there are only several cases. But in Cameroun, as in most developing countries, it takes a long time to take action – vaccinate the
whole population in order to stop the spread of the disease. So, we are presenting all of these kids to God for healing, and praying that HE stops the spread of this disease, and protects not only the family members and neighbors, but all of our employees and patients as well. Please pray with us for healing and protection. We really need your prayers, as this could be devastating for these villages.
May God bless you all with health.
Audrey and the Shanks