006
DDX - Viewable to anyone involved with clinic/hospital | hackable if you're good;
We may be getting a handle on the current fever epidemic the Hospital's up to it's neck in right now. After spending all damn night running a full blood and liver panel on every admitted patient presenting with a fever >100.9°F, most of them can be narrowed down to a range of infections with an insect or arthropod vector. This place apparently isn't short on disease-carrying nasties. All of them have a different range of symptoms, and a different range of tests, which means most of the diagnostic work needs to be done through patient contact. Which means full body checks on everyone presenting a fever.
Fevers of unknown origin can be classified into four types, each with several common potential etiologies. We're primarily seeing classic fevers, the most common result of infection, but it's advisable to keep an eye out for any neutropenic fevers that might otherwise slip through the net. Routinely check bloods for a neutrophil count of <=500 per mm3 and treat all cases of photosensitivity or stiff neck plus fever as potential meningitis until tests prove otherwise.
The main symptoms to keep an eye out for include erythema migrans or macular rash, myalgia, fatigue, skin lesions {papular, petechial, or purpuric}, headache, the sweats, nausea and vomiting. Get one or a couple of those in common with the fever and your first check right now should be insect vectors, or ticks. Check Lyme Disease, RMSF, Ehrlichiosis, Relapsing Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, Tularemia, Endemic Typhus Fever, and work outward to the less usual suspects. Bear in mind it's not unusual for one tick to transmit two pathogens.
And tell people to vaccuum, and mow their damn grass.
I'm picking up Doctor Wilson's hours for him while he's out. If anyone else needs cover this week, I'm good for that too. Just putting it out there.
public;
It's been said before, I'll say it again: if you've got a fever that's hung about for more than a couple of days, get yourself checked out. July in this city's climate is not flu season. It is, however, one long honeymoon period for all sorts of nasty bugs. Nasty bugs carrying nasty pathogens that can do nasty things like shut down your liver for you if you leave them untreated. Catch them nice and quick, though, and a short course of antibiotics will see you right in most cases.
what's better than treatment? prevention. Wear boots or long trousers if you're walking in long grass. Better yet, don't walk in it. Keep your carpets and furniture clean. Groom your pets regularly and make sure you're using flea treatments for them. You can check yourself for ticks, too. They love warm spots where the blood is close to the surface: your underarms, elbows, knees, feet, behind your ears, your groin or in your hair.
Not the prettiest public service announcement, I know, but it's looking more necessary by the day.
In the interests of thinning the crowds a little, no the smoke doesn't seem to be toxic. Yes, it smells like death. Wash your eyes out with saline or distilled water if they're streaming, and stay inside.
Peter, do you bowl? Does anyone here bowl?
private to Molly Walker | hackable if you're good;
If I stop by with something for you, do you think you could make the first one for Claire?
private to Cameron | hackable if you're good;
Pad thai, green curry, spring rolls, papaya salad. No guarantees what it's going to taste like once I've fought my way through the smog. How unethical would it be to hijack a clean room?
private | hackable if you're good;
Nice job, Chase.
It's probable that hearing voices while already hallucinating should raise some concerns. Then again, it is only House.
If I should be learning something from these 'curses' then I have yet to figure out what, other than how surprising it is no one crosses the street when they see me coming. I'm not learning at all. Maybe I'm nostalgic for the old scene. BDSM, painfully exciting and excitingly painful; you get to be guilty and punished all in one act. Timesaver. Should have been on the curriculum at Seminary.
At what point after realising you're stuck here does being 'cursed' stop sounding like an archaic means of discussing menstruation? God I was an awkward kid. And what am I now? I can't pretend I'm better than I was.
I could try not rushing headlong into what I can predict is a bad idea.
Seeing her ashamed was the worst.
God, I'm an arse.
And it's been a month.