varicella-ella-ella-ehh-eh-e

THERE IS AN ONGOING CHICKENPOX OUTBREAK in our home. Almost half of our family is sick. It was my little sister who suffered the viral infection first. She acquired it from a classmate inflicted by the disease. Since varicella or chickenpox is a highly contagious viral disease, it didn’t take long before other susceptible household members got infected. Two weeks after (average incubation period for chicken pox or the time from the acquisition of the virus to the onset of early symptoms), my younger brother Andrew and our house help manifested the symptoms.

Chickenpox usually starts with fever and eventually the appearance of vesicles throughout the body surface. (In my brother’s case, they’re so numerous that I got quite alarmed. It was unlike the other cases I have encountered before. It reminded me of the traditional smallpox.). Like other viral infections, varicella is self-limiting, which means it will automatically terminate, depending upon the carrier’s immune system. Nursing management is symptomatic which basically involves maintenance of body temperature to normal levels since fever is expected through out the course of the disease process. Some medications are taken to decrease the number of vesicles, minimize itching, and for faster healing.

Three days ago, John, my other younger brother, complained of fever, headache, and tenderness on the right side of his neck. At first I thought he got infected too but I eventually ruled it out since he’s already immune to the disease like me. It turned out; he’s just suffering from pharyngitis. The pain is caused by the enlarged lymph nodes of his neck—a normal immune response to prevent the spread of bacterial infection. Antibiotics would do the trick.

Having said that, my week has been all about shoving medications, sticking thermometers, and administering tepid sponge baths—a good thing in the sense that I am able to apply my nursing skills, which I feel is rusting away as time goes by.

Enough of chickenpox and pharyngitis and let me just talk about last week’s ‘Idol’. Hehe! Adam blew me away and caught me by surprise. I’m now eating the words I said a week ago. I deserve a big fat I-TOLD-YOU-SO from Kris Jasper. Hehe! But what I don’t understand is why Matt landed on the bottom three last week. He’s good but obviously America doesn’t see that. Perhaps he lacks charisma compared to the other front-runners. I think it’s the song choice. I hope he’d do well this week. I feel sorry for Michael. I think Megan deserves the boot. But I understand why people chose her to stay. She’s freakin’ beautiful!

[Who will be the next ‘Idol’? Feel free to vote on the side bar :)]

If you’re an avid fan of the Ellen Degeneres Show, you probably know her already. Let me introduce Cambria Detken. This is her entry to Ellen’s Bathroom Concert Series. And she won! :)

I would sing with this girl in a bathroom anytime. :P