tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285095091380063523.post3401349800258437275..comments2024-03-01T12:13:59.709+00:00Comments on Reflections from the Center of the World: Theory and Reality: A Natural ExperimentScott Kniazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16744940137361729171noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285095091380063523.post-16157692709319276952010-11-03T18:20:44.356+00:002010-11-03T18:20:44.356+00:00Hi Scott,
I just recently came across your very e...Hi Scott,<br /><br />I just recently came across your very elaborated and informative blog - thank you for that. I found your example regarding the application of RDTs very insigthful but I also think it is quiet tied to an urban setting where waiting is an option due to the density of health care options in immediate reach. <br /><br />I would appreciate if you could elaborate on this a little more as I am doing my PhD on ACTs and RDTs in the rural areas in Uganda. So if you're interested I could send you an essay about the introduction of RDTs I recently wrote - would be interested in your opinion. <br /><br />Hope to hear from you<br /><br />Renethamar.hommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01164252867860421924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285095091380063523.post-89720859928256836942010-02-18T19:22:44.500+00:002010-02-18T19:22:44.500+00:00That makes sense. I guess I was thinking that Jon...That makes sense. I guess I was thinking that Jonas only did nothing because that's what you asked him to do, and once the RDT was administered you were vindicated.<br /><br />I guess it's a long way to go to make the RDT's cheap, readily available, and trusted by the public.<br /><br />This is a great blog, Scotty. Keep it up!Dave Kernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00158485133103779918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285095091380063523.post-41041894765694714932010-02-18T14:01:05.430+00:002010-02-18T14:01:05.430+00:00Thanks for the very insightful comment, Dave! The...Thanks for the very insightful comment, Dave! The issue you raise is a good one. As for your question, no, there is not a more serious disease Ghanaians face than malaria. Let me assure you, malaria is serious enough.<br /><br />The problem is that the first symptoms of malaria are very similar to those of many other, more benign infections like colds or flu. The problem with Jonas' wait and see tactic is that malaria can go from uncomplicated disease (which is very treatable with a three-day regimen of ACT) to severe/complicated malaria in a matter of days, depending on the voracity parasite strain you have.<br /><br />As the parasites start attacking the red blood cells of the liver, severe malaria symptoms can include anemia, acute renal (liver) failure, hypoglycemia, convulsions, and more comlications that can ultimately lead to coma or death. Americans are able to do the wait and see method, because most of the time it is just flu or cold, and the risks of having something that goes from feeling "under the weather" to something life threatening are minimal. The fear with the wait and see method in malarial areas is that you will wait too long, and by the time you realize that it is more than just a fever and body ache, it is too late. That's why public health professionals recommend seeking immediate treatment for malaria-like symptoms.<br /><br />And again, with all things malaria, it's the children and the pregnant women for which everything is worse. For them, they not only die from the uncomplicated malaria more often, but it becomes complicated/severe more quickly, as well.<br /><br />I hope that better explains it, and thanks for the good comment!Scott Kniazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16744940137361729171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1285095091380063523.post-28008021426509146112010-02-17T19:14:48.077+00:002010-02-17T19:14:48.077+00:00I'm a little confused on the extreme options p...I'm a little confused on the extreme options presented here. <br /><br />People in the States get sick all the time and do nothing just like Jonas did. People get sick and most of the time we rest, drink fluids, etc. until we feel better and the disease has run its course. We may treat the symptoms in the mean time, or eventually go to the hospital if things get real bad.<br /><br />Are there other more serious diseases that the population of Ghana is more threatened by that makes this rest and wait strategy a bad option? Wouldn't Jonas eventually have gone to the hospital if things didn't get better or got worse?Dave Kernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00158485133103779918noreply@blogger.com