Monday, July 21, 2008

Dengue Fever

In Central America we have a fun little virus called Dengue. Oh, it's pretty awful actually. Some symptoms include: high fever (usually lasts a couple of days)
body aches and chills, especially head and eye aches
Body exhaustion, weekened immune system
and so forth......all of which Drew was unfortunate to come down with this weekend.
It is transmitted by mosquitos, and we just started our rainy season, so it is perfect breeding time for these bugs and the disease.
I won't talk too much about the hospital experience because I know Drew is looking forward to blogging about it. I think if Drew has to do another medical test or visit a clinic again anytime soon though, he may go crazy. Lets just say, they tend to overcheck some things and under pay attention to others. Lets just say it isn't like the states.....
However, i will give our little hospital in town one thing, it has the best hospital food I've ever seen. Maybe because it's adventist, and they run a daily bakery as well. Fresh bread and fruits, overall, not too bad.
Drew is now recovering and doing better, and I am wearing bug spray around the house so I don't accidently come down with the fever as well. Unfortunately, like with malaria, there is no preventitive medicines you can take, you just gotta hope you don't get bit by an infected mosquito. But good news for you in the states, it is non-exsistant there. And, people in town have been really supportive. Our counterpart came by the night Drew had to stay in the hospital and brought movies and music to listen too. Another work buddy gave us a ride home from the hospital the next day. We only live about 2 blocks from the hospital, but that is far when you're really sick. Since we live in the adventist neighborhood so close to the adventist hospital, all our neighbors knew he was sick and have sent their well-wishes for his quick recovery. It does help that people here are so friendly when you are sick, makes it a little easier.
This is just a quick update on our crazy past few days, hope all of you are in good health and doing well!

1 comment:

Saint Facetious said...

Suck! Tell Drew I said to get well soon. And the name of this illness has always cracked me up. That dengue fever! That danged fever! Nevermind.