The topics on the Sunday, March 29 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio show included the antibiotic treatment of a serious Rickettsial infection, the call for vaccinating against Japanese encephalitis in the Philippines and the story of family who is dealing with a rare cancer in their 2-year-old daughter.
CDC epidemiologist and author of a recent study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, Dr. Jennifer McQuiston joined me to talk about the tick borne disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) and the importance of timely treatment with the drug of choice, doxycycline.
Because the antibiotic carries the warning of tooth staining in children under 8 years of age, some physicians hesitate to treat suspected cases of RMSF in young children putting them at risk of serious infection and possibly death.
McQuiston says, based on the study, “This shouldn’t be a reason to avoid this life-saving drug. Changing the drug’s label may encourage physicians to use doxycycline earlier to treat suspected RMSF in children, which will help save lives.”
In the second half of the show, I spoke to Dr Anna Lena Lopez, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and research associate professor at the University of the Philippines in Manila and the lead author of a study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical diseases about Japanese encephalitis in the Philippines.
Dr Lopez discussed what Japanese encephalitis (JE) is and the study concerning the endemicity of the mosquito borne virus.
In addition, in the study Lopez and her colleagues concluded the need to put the JE vaccine on the national vaccination schedule in the Philippines, which she also discussed.
The show closed with the story of a Tampa -area family who recently found out their young daughter was diagnosed with the rare cancer, neuroblastoma.
Patrick and Catalina Anderson showed amazing strength as they told their heartbreaking story of their 2-year-old daughter, Sofia and her diagnosis, treatment and upcoming events to help out with the family.
You can read more at Sofia Strong Movie or at the Facebook page, Sofia Strong.
If you’d like to help–visit Team Sofia to donate
LISTEN to the complete podcast below:
The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show airs every Sunday at 5 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area on AM 860 The Answer and online HERE
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