I haven't posted as much as I wanted to. For weeks now, my cough has prompted me to stay in bed most nights. Now I have runny nose. My kids are also getting sick. Even my husband caught the virus. Hopefully we'll all be better soon.

Attack of the Head Lice!!!

I wonder if celebrities and Hollywood stars ever get to have head lice. I'm pretty sure some of you did, and it's such a pain in the a__! Not only is it difficult to eliminate, it takes time and real effort. And what bugs the most is that when you have eliminated the lice, yaya or your kid's schoolmate may have it and may again infect another.

About a few months ago, my eldest daughter had this. Since most of the housemaids are from the province, some have had it before working for us. What's a mother to do but treat each member of the household. I bought each one a fine-toothed comb (suyod) from a local supermarket. It took a month before  it was completely eradicated.

Licealiz shampoo is one of the many treatments for head lice. It's under Lamoiyan company. It's to be used twice a week for two weeks when treating and once a week to prevent recurrence. But this doesn't mean you do nothing else. You have to use a fine toothed comb on your hair and manually pick out the eggs to completely eliminate head lice.

I used it on my 2 kids and it is safe for breastfeeding mothers as well. As I've read, the content of pyrethrin is small enough that lactating mothers can also use it.

So does my kids having head lice make me a negligent parent? Some would say I may be, for letting my kids down when in comes to proper hygiene. Some would say that it is normal for growing kids. I would say that my kids are small and needs people to take care of them while I put food on the table, send them to school and provide warmth to their small bodies. I would be negligent if I do nothing and let the infestation proceed. I would be negligent if I do not treat them and everyone else in the house.

How about you, what's you experience with head lice?

Dengue and Pregnant

About a week ago, i was having high grade fever and muscle pains. I thought at first it was just ordinary flu. By the third day of my fever, i went to get a complete blood count with platelet count. It turned out normal. I went to my OB and she told me to get myself admitted in a hospital. I hated the thought of needles and all that sorts. So i told my OB that I'll just have my blood taken everyday. Over the next two days, hubby took my blood and the results revealed a decreasing platelet count and white blood count. Plus I was beginning to have premature contractions, at 34 weeks age of gestation. Hard as it was for me, got myself admitted.

I never thought I'd be one of those patients that I keep treating. I never thought dengue would hit me, let alone I was pregnant at 34 weeks. I wasn't concern that I had dengue, I was more concern of the premature contractions.

While admitted, I was referred to an infectious and a perinatologist. They had to be sure that it was dengue and nothing else since only my platelet count was increasing with no change in my hematocrit. They were also giving me meds for my contractions. And everytime they try to increase the dose, I get palpitations. Yes it was scary.

Dengue cases are indeed increasing in our country. And it doesn't choose its victims. Anyone can be bitten and become infected. I was and so can you.

Teething

My mother and I has this constant battle, the friendly battle, everytime Kate's new tooth erupts. My daughter would be irritable, with decrease appetite and fever. She would insist that it was caused by the tooth eruption. Being a doctor, we would always dismiss this thought. Irritable and with decrease appetite maybe, but the fever would always cause a debate.

When her fever got to the fifth day, she developed erythematous papular rashes (raised red rashes) on her trunk. I just had to bring her to the laboratory and later to her Pedia. I could get the blood sample myself but I couldn't stand her looking at me teary-eyed so I had to let the med tech do it.

Turns out she had viral exanthem (is a widespread rash usually occurring in children) Thank goodness.

While her Pedia was writing his notes, I just had to ask.

Me: "Doc, nagfe-fever ba talaga pag lumalabas ang ngipin ng babies?"

Pedia: (with a grin) "Hindi naman." (smiles)

Hearing that I was excited to tell my mom who was waiting in the van with my eldest daughter Reese. I told her. Knowing my mom, she wasn't about to let it go.

When we got home, I still wasn't contented so I opened my Nelson's Pedia Book and read it again.

Children who are teething often present with irritability, decrease appetite and low-grade fever. Remedies would include pain relievers or teethers to help soothe the pain.

Reading it let me speechless. I think I missed this part.

So I guess mother really know best! Now the debate would finally be over for me and my mom :)