Honoring Lieutenant Commander Doris M. Artz on this Memorial Day

On the occasion of this Memorial Day, I would like you to visit another one of my blogs:

https://learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2017/05/in-remembrance-of-lieutenant-commander.html

A Superior Compressor/Nebulizer: The Pari

              I always preface any of my recommendations of anything from The Simple Pump, to medical supplies with a disclaimer.  I do not receive any benefits, cash, or any advantage as a result of my recommending any product or service.  I simply believe that we should pass on our experiences as they benefit others. I truly believe in the products I recommend to you.   If I ever do receive a benefit of any kind for one of these recommendations, then I will amend the post accordingly.

              I have used a nebulizer for all of my children at one time or another.  Our allergist and our pediatrician have recommended them from time to time, since my children have asthma to one degree or another, as do I.  We often go almost a year without any difficulties, but often, in Winter, there is at least one infection annually that warrants support and treatment with the use of an episodic nebulizer. As a result, I own a number of different types of nebulizers.

We have used a compressor/nebulizer like this one periodically, for years.

  
             In the US, and I would imagine in most other nations, a compressor/nebulizer combination is sold by prescription, and aerosolizes a prescription medication for inhalation.  Sometimes, a treatment with one of these is ordered only once, as would be used in a hospital emergency room, and other times it may be used twice, thrice or four times daily. Used correctly, these devices can make a substantial difference in the lives of children or adults with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Many people use these devices only during a serious respiratory infection which complicates their asthma. Others, use these devices regularly for large periods in their lives, or in some cases, for the duration of their lifespan.

             In the last several years I had occasion to use an aerosolizer and nebulizer made by a company named Pari.

There are a variety of nebulizers made by Pari.  This is the Pro Neb Ultra.

                 The Pari device appears to aerosolize a larger amount of the prescribed solution and to create a thick cool mist. This enables us to finish our nebulizer treatments more quickly. This also makes it a bit easier to get a child to comply with a needed treatment. It might also make adults more likely to use their nebulizer as often as they might need it, perhaps not skipping its use as much as they might normally.

                 Pari makes a variety of aerosolizer/nebulizers.  Some are designed for frequent or long session use.  For example, some children with cystic fibrosis may use one of these devices for three inhaled medications one after the other, before school in the morning. Most nebulizers would be destroyed by such long use.    Pari also makes devices which can be plugged into your car so that your child can complete a treatment while there.  They also have one that is highly portable and is battery operated and can be recharged.

             Most allergists, immunologists and pulmonologists know of Pari devices and many recommend them.  Family practice medicine physicians could be less familiar depending upon the number of patients they see with this issue.   If you use nebulizer medication, you can ask your physician for a prescription for a Pari aerosolizer/nebulizer.  You can simply say that it vaporizes the medication faster and that you are more likely to reap more of the benefits with one of these machines.

This is the Pari Trek S which has a battery module which can be purchased separately. The device is highly portable and effective.

             The peripherals to Pari devices are different than for other nebulizers. They are bulkier and designed for repeated use.  They can also be boiled for five minutes.  This can help to make them more cost effective.   Please use a nebulizer set  for each family member, if you have multiple family members using one. Even a boiled device should not be shared.


 


         Pari devices are available worldwide.

These are examples of the Pari Vios unit.

Pari devices are available worldwide.


These are some of the sources in the US

 https://www.walgreens.com/topic/pharmacy/nebulizer-services.jsp

http://justnebulizers.com/pari-lc-plus-reusable-nebulizer-set-1.html

http://justnebulizers.com/pari-vios-nebulizer.html



This is the website for the company itself:      This is for customer support and information.

https://www.pari.com/us-en/home/




    The correct nebulizer and inhaled medications can make an incredible difference in the functionality of and enjoyment of life in a person with either a periodic or a chronic respiratory condition.

Germany and An Existential Threat

           

  Some years ago some friends of ours who were homeschoolers and in the military, were sent to serve in Germany. They weren't able to homeschool there, even as Americans on the base, and they wound up sending their kids to a local German school. Our friends commented at the time that large amounts of the German school day were devoted to the study of "Ethics".

                  This week, I was reading an article written by a German citizen in which they cited that "Americans hate too much" and that we could use a lesson from our German friends. The author cited that through a concerted educational effort, the Germans were able to end their collective "hate for the Jews" and become a shining example to the world of openness and tolerance.   This was interesting for a number of reasons. In school we were always taught that the German people did not know of the actions of the Nazis and therefore were blameless for it.  The article I read this week said that some did, and that the grandmother of the author of the article said that "The Jews had it coming". The gist of the article is that human beings cannot learn not to hate without an organized academic effort.

                  I disagree.  The bulk of Americans actually take each person they meet as they come.  They know that we all need one another. Many of us have different faiths, creeds and colors in our own families.  There have been great changes in the US since the nineteen-sixties and it actually didn't take hours of ethics classes to attain this.  Yes, there are a few crazies who pedal hate, but you will find that in England, France and Germany as well.

                 My concern about including formal classes which preach total acceptance for other colors, creeds, and races, no matter what their practices are as follows.  Just now, Germany faces an existential threat.  Large numbers of Muslim refugees from a number of places in the Middle East have poured into Germany. To their credit, Germany has been very generous in aiding them and helping them to get educations, jobs and housing.  In part, this is due to the German educational system.  However, I am concerned that with all the programming provided by German schools that the German people might not recognize an existential threat. When faced with some Muslims who might advocate the ritual genital mutilation of their young daughters, the murder of their own daughters who may have shamed them in some way, and gang rape of infidels, will the Germans have enough of an ability to express dismay and reject such practices or will they simply see these practices as "another flavor of the rainbow"?     I don't have a problem with refugees. I do have a problem with those who attempt to take over towns as Muslim enclaves, and enact their own brand of Sharia Law. I do have a problem with Muslims who hold themselves above the laws of the nation in which they now live. I have a problem with refugees who attempt to convert their neighbors to their own faith, and when this doesn't work out for them, beheads them.  Let's hope Germany has enough independent thinking left to restrict, jail and/or deport those who would attempt to take advantage of their decent nature.


  This is the article that spurred this commentary:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/01/take-it-from-a-german-americans-are-too-timid-in-confronting-hate

About Powassan Virus

          

This graphic showing the number of cases from 2006-2015, is the work of the CDC It has been known since 1958.

             In 2012 I did a series on tick borne illnesses, and then later expanded the series to include insect envenomation injuries.   Of course, public health issues change and expand over time. This is one such needed update.

                  Powassan Virus is also a tick borne virus which is a flavivirus. It is therefore related to The West Nile Virus, St. Louis Encephalitis, and some other tick borne encephalitises.  Seventy five cases of it have been proven within about the last ten years and are most often seen in in either the Great Lakes Region of the United States or the Northeastern Region of the US.   A person bitten by a tick might feel alright after contracting Powassan virus, but they may also go on to experience fever, chills, vomiting, seizures, confusion, memory loss,and potentially death.   Patients for whom the disease is identified may need hospitalization for ventilatory support, drugs to prevent brain swelling and for intravenous hydration and fever control.  A small percentage of those with this illness will die. A larger percentage of those will have permanent neurologic issues secondary to the encephalitis which is possible. When encephalitis occurs, muscle wasting, memory issues and other neurologic problems may also occur.

                  Anyone who has received a tick bite and is now sick or febrile (which means has a fever) needs to seek medical care immediately. The incubation period for Powassan Virus is one week to one month long.  There is presently no preventive vaccine available.  There are two strains of this virus that have been isolated and both are pathogenic (disease causing) in human beings. This is a nationally reportable disease.

            Although Powhassan virus is relatively rare, it is increasing in incidence. It is also found in Canada, and it is named for the place in which it was first described. It has also been detected in Russia. We do not yet know which other nations also may experience this disease. (Remember that originally Lyme Disease was only thought to be a Northeastern US issue, and that is certainly not the case now.)  Powhassan virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes of having a tick embedded upon you. It is not transmissible from person to person.  I will add additional information as possible.

           Please see my prior posts on strategies for avoidance of tick bites.



Prior Posts on my series on Tick Borne Illness    (2012)


https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/04/learn-something-about-your-areas-tick.html

https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/04/avoidance-of-tick-borne-illnesses.html

https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-advent-of-new-tick-borne-illness.html

 https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2014/12/important-news-concerning-bourbon-virus.html


And on Envenomation Injuries:

https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/07/other-types-of-envenomation-injuries.html

https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-reprise-dangers-of-winter-spider-bites.html

 https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/12/spiders-may-still-be-hazard-in-winter.html

https://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2012/07/other-types-of-envenomation-injuries.html