This young girl named Mary was bitten by a stray dog just a few days ago. So she returned to the clinic for her rabies shots. Only today she was sick! The thermometer read 103 and her body felt hot! She looked like she didn't feel well at all. Her mother was with her. Dickson and I took care of her. First checking her blood--- and it was + for malaria. We gave her some Tylenol for her fever but she soon vomited it right back up. Dickson continued to communicate with the mother to find out her other symptoms. Her fevers just started last night, so it was a blessing that she was already coming to the clinic. We drew up the two rabies vaccine as well as some Artemether injection to treat the malaria.
She is one brave little girl!
She rested outside for 2 hours, we rechecked her temperature- normal, and she was sent home. She was able to take the pills for malaria and stay hydrated. She will return in a few weeks for her last rabies injection.
This is 16 year old boy, Kaya, also has malaria. He was very lethargic and restless. Also, high fevers for 3 days, joint pain, and headaches. We started an IV and a Quinine drip to treat his more advanced malaria. After a few hours his fever broke and he was doing 100% better. We were able to send him home later that same day! He returned the next day and was doing well. Now he is on CoArtem (pills) for malaria treatment for the next 3 days.
This young boy, John, age 12 works at the grinding mill just across from the clinic. Got his finger too close to the machine. Dickson placed 6 stitches after numbing the skin with some lidocaine. We gave him some antibiotics, pain medication. and sent him to Doctors Without Borders for a tetanus vaccine.
Happy family at the clinic.
So glad all are doing well.
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