Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, July 11, 1996, Image 10

Augusta focus., July 11, 1996, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10 July 11, 1996 Rheumatic fever making a comeback Serious Group A streptococcal infections, which for centuries were responsible for large epi demics of rheumatic fever and a major cause of infection-associ ated mortality among infants, children and- adults, have re emerged as a public health prob lem, according to a June 1996 supplement of Pediatrics, the official publication of the Amer ican Academy of Pediatrics. Strep throat, a type of Group A streptococeal infection, can be associated with dangerous, if not life-threatening, infections if not properly diagnosed and treated, Pediatrics reports. Serious com plications of Group A strep in clude not only rheumatic fever, but streptococcal toxic shock syn drome and tissue infections such asnecrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eat ing bacteria), which have report ed mortality rates of 30 percent or higher. j The Pediatrics supplement re ports that penicillin, introduced more than 40 years ago, remains the most effective drug for treat ing strep throat and preventing its spread and development into dangerous complications. Peni cillin is also available as a single injection, preferably when ad herence to a 10-day regimen of oral penicillin might be difficult. Newer oral antibiotics are widely prescribed by physicians, Augusta VA expands primary care clinics AUGUSTA David Whatley, director of the VA Medical Center, has an nounced the expansion of the Primary Care Team (PCT) Clin ics at the Augusta VA Medical Center. A ribbon-cutting cere mony to open the fourth PCT Clinic was held Monday, July 8 at the 5C Wing of the Downtown Division. The concept of the Primary Don’t touch that shnooze button! Rebeccea In the - morning. Ww88A.... Augusta's best mix of music AUGUSTA FOCUS Serious complications of Group A strep include not only rheumatic fever, but streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and tissue infections such as necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria), which have reported mortality rates of 30 percent or higher. but according to Edward L. Kaplan, M.D., editor of the Pedi atrics supplement and an expert on Group A streptococcal infec tions, as many as two-thirds of patients stop taking the medi cine as soon as the symptoms start to disappear, thereby al lowing theillness tosurvive, pos sibly return and even spread. He says that strep can spread quick ly where people congregate, par ticularly in crowded areas such as schools and daycare facilities. Dr. Kaplan, who is the chair of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Refer ence and Research on Strepto cocci and a professor of pediat rics at the University of Minne sota, says sore throats need to be seen by pediatricians or primary care physicians and cultures must be taken to insure proper diagnosisand treatment of Group A streptococcal infections. Factsaboutstrepinfections and rheumatic fever *A Group A streptococeal in fection in the throat is called streptococcal pharyngitis, or Care Team Clinic has gained acceptance nationwide and has been a tremendous success at the Augusta VA. Patients are enthusiastic about the continu ity of care, easy access and de crease in waiting times. The medical staff finds that this set ting helps establish a patient’s “continuity of care” from both the administrative and patient care points of view. Livingßetter strep throat. It is caused by bac teria, not a virus. *Strep throat should be diag nosed by a pediatrician or family physician using a throat culture. *Strep throat should be treat ed with penicillin, as recommend ed in the June 1996 supplement of Pediatrics and by the Ameri can Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. Injection is preferable when ad herence to a 10-day regimen of oral penicillin might be difficult. *Strep throat can be distin guished from other sore throats by its suddenness and trademark high fever (over 101), redness and swelling at the back of the mouth, swollen, tender lymph nodes on the neck, and the possi ble absence of a runny nose and coughing. e Strep throat can lead to rheu matic fever in as little as two weeks if the strep is not properly diagnosed and treated. Children between five and 15 are most commonly affected. Symptoms include fever with pain, inflam mation and swelling in one or PCT Clinics A and B, which are general medicine clinics, were inaugurated in January 1994. The Women’s Health Clin ic (PCT-C), activated in October 1995, is a new holistic approach to treating women at the Medi cal Center. “The Augusta VA Medical Cen ter and its patients will accrue many benefits from this pro- more joints. Heart damage can develop slowly, often resulting in a thickening and scarring of the heart valves that can eventu ally require surgery. eSymptoms of rheumatic fe verinclude continued fever; swol len wrists, knees or ankles; a warm feeling in the swollen joints and swelling migrating from joint to joint. *Treatment of rheumatic fe ver includes penicillin and bed rest for more than a month. To avoid another attack, a child must receive preventive treat ment with penicillin once every month until she or he is 18 years old or older. *Rheumatic fever and other complications of Group A strep infections are now more of a con cern for healthcare providers because serious Group A strep tococcal infections have re emerged during the last 10 years asapublic health problem. Many current strains of Group A strep may be virulent and result in a higher risk of mortality for both children and adults. *Other complications of Group Astrepincludestreptococcal tox ic shock syndrome and tissue infections such as necrotizing fasciitis, the flesh-eating bacte ria, both of which have a report ed mortality rate of 30 percent of higher. gram,” Whatley said. “A patient who weuld have been treated by anumber of physicians two years ago is now seen by his or her own dedicated team of providers in a clinic setting that rivals the ser vices and facilities available in the private sector.” The Augusta VA anticipates that, by the end of the year, more than 7,000 vet erans will be enrolled in the PCT Clinics. z eve Q Eve Care Questions and Answers with Dr. Thomas Casella, Optometrist Fireworks and eye injuries Fireworks have a special place in I.iany hearts, but every year someone, often a child, suffers a serious eye injury. Fireworks can blind, burn or abrade the eye, but bottle rockets are particularly dangerous. They have an erratic flight path, impact forcibly and can blow up in your face as you are lighting them. The bottles containing them sometimes explode as well. The Georgia Optometric Association says if fireworks are to be used, please consider these precautions: *Adult supervision is essential. “Wear eye glasses or goggles for protec tion. Augusta Focus is a Walker Group Publication St. Joseph Hospice to offer volunteer training St. Joseph Hospice, which serves 16 counties in Georgia and South Carolina, will hold atwo-day work shop for individuals interested in becoming a Hospice volunteer or increasing their helping skills to terminally and bereaved persons. The workshop will be held Satur Birds and the bees class offered for young ladies This course brings together 12 - 15-year-old girlsand their moth ers for frank discussions on sex uality, peer pressures and re sponsible decision making. Course content deals with the changes, challenges and deci sions that confront today’s teen age girls. The course presents a positive approach to the.female body and its unique gift to life, Eisenhower Pharmacy will have call-in refill service Starting Augusta 5, 1996, pa tients needing refill prescriptions from Eisenhower Army Medical Center’s Pharmacy will need to request their refills through the Call-In refill service. Using the Call-In refill servic es will mean less time to process refill prescriptions, which means shorter waiting times for our patients at the Pharmacy. The improved Call-In service requires touch-tone phone ser vice. To use this service, dial (706) 787-1710, 1711, 1712 or 1713. Listen carefully and fol low the instructions given by the Visit BL’s Restaurant e — for breakfast! AN Saturdays only. Q“; Member, Georgia Optometrist Association days, July 20 and July 27, in the Summerville Professional Center next to St. Joseph Hospital, 9a.m. to 4 p.m. bothdays. Thereisno fee for the course. Lunch will be pro vided. For further information, call 481-7490 or (803) 8220 or 1- 800-533-3949. affirms the power of saying “NO” and encourages healthy self-es teem. It will be presented by St. Jo seph Hospital on Thursday, July 18, from 6:30 - 9 p.m. The fee is $5. For additional information or to register, please call the St. Joseph Hospital Family Life Cen ter at 481-7604. automated service. Be sure to have the prescription numbers and your sponsor’s social securi ty number before making your call. If you call in your prescrip tions before 2 p.m., you can pick them up the following work day. If you call in your prescriptions after 2 p.m., you need to wait one working day before coming in to pick up your refills. To pick up your prescription refills, you need the patient’s military identification card and a list of the refill prescriptions you called in. *Place a bucket of water nearby to put out fires or douse those devices that don’t work (duds). *Read the manufacturer’s label and follow the directions. *lgnite fireworks outdoors and only one at a time. *Dispose of used fireworks properly. “The best cure for an eye injury from fireworks is prevention,” said Dr. Nancy Barr, president, Georgia Optometric Association. “Consider attending a profes sional fireworks show rather than taking a risk with your eyes.” Should an eye injury occur, please consult an optometrist immediately.