Replies. . .

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the new people on the list!

Tammy: How old was Zack when he got the flutter? We

use the " tickle machine " for two year old Levi, but

the thing isn't very portable. I'd like to get the

flutter and convince him it's really a whistle but

didn't know how old they had to be to be able to use

it properly. I'm glad you found our list!

Bridget: " " Can Staph and Serratia be given to a child

that does not have CF? When my children are culturing

these and they play with others, are the other

children at risk? " " I don't know anything about

Serratia, but I would think it's similar to the other

bacteria that cf people get. These bacteria are all

around us, in the dirt, air, water, everywhere. If

you don't have cf (or another lung-affecting

condition) then your lungs just clear out the dirt and

bacteria as part of the daily routine. If you have

cf, then the bacteria get trapped in the thicker than

usual lung secretions and start setting up shop.

Because of these thicker lung secretions, the cilia

(little bitty hair-like things on the lung surface

that constanly sweep out mucous and foreign objects,

like dirt and bacteria) can't do their job because the

mucous makes them scrunch down and unable to sweep the

stuff out.

So now that I've given the little science lesson that

I learned at our last parents' cf update at Children's

Hosp., my answer is that yes, your children can spread

their germs, but no, it won't affect healthy children

because their lungs will just sweep the bacteria right

out just like they do all the time.

So, even though you still have to worry about these

bacteria in your own children's lungs, at LEAST we

don't have to worry that they will spread them to

others.

If anyone says anything about " the cough, " you can

always respond with the old standby, " Don't worry, you

can't CATCH what my kid has, it's genetic. "

You may insert an appropriate level of sarcasm into

this phrase depending on the way the person is looking

at you when they mention " the cough. "

As for the Staph, Levi cultured that and e. coli for

over a year and didn't culture anything this last

time, so at least you know it CAN be knocked out. He

wasn't on any antibiotics, either, between the last

visit when he cultured them and this past visit when

he didn't, so I don't think there is any rhyme or

reason to the cf scheme of things! :\

On another note, my two older children (ages 6 & 5)

had their last day of swim lessons today. Levi was

very impatient throughout the ordeal, wanting very

much to get wet with the older kids! Since he

couldn't do that during instruction time, he threw

anything he could get his hands on into the water in

lieu of participation. Talk about someone who was

relieved to get them all strapped into the Jeep and

git outa there!

Everyone have a good weekend!

~

=====

**********************************************

Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.

Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.

Do not walk beside me... just leave me alone.

**********************************************

__________________________________________________