During the past few months, there have been a tremendous amount of sickness and disease in our country. Even in my hometown of Hampton, Va., I have heard many stories about people being in the hospital with pneumonia. Recently we have heard about a sickness targeting young children around the Tidewater area and in North Carolina. These children appear fine, but they are plagued with high fevers, stomach pains and flu-like symptoms. The worst part is doctors are unable to detect what the illness is, and in some cases the illness becomes fatal.
Even though it is sad to hear about children dying from an unknown disease, many of us may think this was something we, as young adults, don’t have to worry about. I really didn’t pay too much attention to it until my 4-year-old cousin became sick last weekend. On our way to North Carolina he complained about his stomach hurting. Once we arrived there he said his head was hurting and we noticed that he had a slight cough. We gave him some Tylenol and he went to sleep. The next day he was very tired and slept most of the day, even missing a birthday party, which is very unusual. We took his temperature and it was 102.8 degrees, so again we gave him more Tylenol.
We noticed he had lost his appetite, but we didn’t worry too much because the next day he would be back in Hampton with his mother and she would be able to schedule a doctor’s appointment for him. Once we arrived back in Hampton we took his temperature again and it had risen to 104.3 degrees, despite his looking better, drinking more liquids and eating a little more. He was rushed to the hospital and once he got there he complained about having trouble breathing. His pulse was taken and his heart rate was extremely rapid. The nurse took him to a room in the back to administer medicine, along with six other children suffering from the same symptoms.
All of this may sound normal to some of you; children get sick all the time! I think it’s more than a coincidence that this hospital was full of parents waiting to have their children examined. One doctor’s office had to open their doors on a Sunday to assist with this epidemic.
I am not telling you this story to gain your sympathy; instead it should serve as a wake up call. Some of you may have daughters, sons, nieces or nephews that you really care about. This story shouldn’t be taken lightly. It could be one of you at the hospital wondering what’s wrong with your child. You could be getting a phone call that your little cousin is sick in the hospital and doctors cannot find out what’s wrong. I wish this on no one, but it is the truth! One simple cough, headache or chest pain should not be ignored, it may be more serious than you think.
With all the worry about terrorists attacking us with biochemical weapons, this could be the beginning stage of yet another terrorist attack. Some of my acquaintances said they think there is something being dispersed in the air that the lungs of young children cannot tolerate, being that the recent illness has caused respiratory problems. Government officials have reason to believe that terrorists will attack the United States with the smallpox virus or some other biochemical device. Our nation was recently on high alert and we were urged to go out and purchase plastic and duct tape to cover our windows. Many of us may think this is unnecessary and perhaps stupid, but who knows what the real source is behind all this sickness. Could it be a simple cold, maybe the flu, or is there something in the air?