Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Strep Throat

Tina and Mindy are sick with strep throat. (Miguel is fine.) They're taking antibiotics now to annihilate that darn bacteria* inside them. For the past two days, they've been cycling with fever up to 104F. Thank goodness that children have a higher tolerance to fever than adults. Anyway, I hate seeing them being so miserable. I can't wait until it's all over.

Although my throat is starting to feel just a tad sore this morning.

* I'm always asking Melinda to remind me of the differences between bacteria and a virus. In sum, bacteria are one-celled living organisms while a virus is simply a piece of DNA, arguably is not alive and needs a host. Bacteria are treated with antibiotics--'selective poison' to kill the bacteria cells but no other; a virus has no treatment (mostly) and must run its course (thus only the 'symptoms' are treated) as the body naturally defends itself and eventually defeats it. Immunization against a virus is not a cure but rather preventive medicine that boosts the body's ability to defend itself.

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