Louisiana | Acadiana Public Health region organizes crib bumper pad donation drive to reduce SIDS risk

Posted by Hal Newman on Jan 18, 2012 in Louisiana, USA

Lafayette | 18 Jan 2012

The Region 4 (Acadiana area) Office of Public Health has organized a donation drive that will combat one public health issue while providing a solution for another.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that bumper pads, which are soft, padded materials that line cribs, should not be used in areas where infants sleep because they pose a high risk for SIDS, suffocation or strangulation.

From Jan. 16 through 27, residents can drop off crib bumper pads at any of the region’s seven parish health units. Local high school students then will refashion the bumper pads to make them into bedrail guards, lap blankets, adult bibs and other items, and will donate these items to local nursing homes.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines in October for how parents can reduce their babies’ risk of SIDS and suffocation, which included removing bumper pads,” said Dr. Tina Stefanski, regional medical director. “We wanted to help raise awareness of these new guidelines locally, as suffocation was the leading cause of accidental death for Louisiana infants in 2009, which is the last year for which data is available. We also realized an opportunity to use the crib bumper pads for a good cause – although they pose a risk for infants, they can help elderly residents in nursing homes avoid bumps and bruising, and can make them more comfortable when resting.”

The list of Acadiana area parish health units is included below. Parents who wish to donate infant bumper pads can drop them off at any health unit during regular business hours.

The Acadiana office of The Family Tree, 4540 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, B220, Lafayette, will also act as a bumper pad collection site. The contact number for The Family Tree is (337) 295-7021.

Louisiana | DHH warns residents about improper neti pot use after woman does from rare infection

Posted by Hal Newman on Dec 7, 2011 in Louisiana, USA

Baton Rouge LA | The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is warning residents about the dangers of the improper use of neti pots. The warning follows the state’s second death this year caused by Naegleria fowleri, the so-called brain-eating ameba. A 51-year-old DeSoto Parish woman died recently after using tap water in a neti pot to irrigate her sinuses and becoming infected with the deadly ameba. In June, a 20-year-old St. Bernard Parish man died under the same circumstances. Naegleria fowleri infects people by entering the body through the nose. A neti pot is commonly used to irrigate sinuses, and looks like a genie’s lamp.

“If you are irrigating, flushing, or rinsing your sinuses, for example, by using a neti pot, use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water to make up the irrigation solution,” said Louisiana State Epidemiologist, Dr. Raoult Ratard.  “Tap water is safe for drinking, but not for irrigating your nose.”  It’s also important to rinse the irrigation device after each use and leave open to air dry.

Naegleria fowleri infection typically occurs when people go swimming or diving in warm freshwater lakes and rivers. In very rare instances, Naegleria fowleri infections may also occur when contaminated water from other sources (such as inadequately chlorinated swimming pool water or heated tap water less than 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit) enters the nose when people submerge their heads or when people irrigate their sinuses with devices such as a neti pot. You cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking water.

Naegleria fowleri causes the disease primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that leads to the destruction of brain tissue. In its early stages, symptoms of PAM may be similar to symptoms of bacterial meningitis.

Initial symptoms of PAM start one to seven days after infection. The initial symptoms include headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck. Later symptoms include confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. After the start of symptoms, the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within one to 12 days.

Naegleria fowleri infections are very rare. In the 10 years from 2001 to 2010, 32 infections were reported in the U.S. Of those cases, 30 people were infected by contaminated recreational water and two people were infected by water from a geothermal drinking water supply.