PSA: Watch out for mosquitos dudes@!!!!

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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My father's been complaining about headaches for the past week, but thought they were just migrains and didn't bother with them.

Going to lunch Thursday, he started having lots of confusion, couldn't remember where he was, and he got lost on base, confused in general. He ended up calling my mother while he was driving, and just kept repeating that he didn't know where he was. My mom thought he was joking - and after trying to get him to stop driving so the MPs coudl find him, he was stopped at the front gate.

Got taken to the hospital that day - ran a battery of tests, all came back negative until they did a spinal tap. After a few more test - turns out he had viral encephalitis. Started having some complications - swelling of his brain, and numbness all over his body.

After some serious doses morphine, and some rest - he's much better now. And the reason for all this - a mosquito bite. So - use the bug spray dudes ;)
 

neutralizer

Lifer
Oct 4, 2001
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Wow, I've been bitten like 10 times already, but I haven't gone crazy yet so I think it's safe.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
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Originally posted by: neutralizer
Wow, I've been bitten like 10 times already, but I haven't gone crazy yet so I think it's safe.

Yeah - I get bitten multiple times a day in FL. Never had a problem - but he just got bitten by the wrong one here in North Carolina.
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
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Originally posted by: Mookow
If it was viral encephalitis, why did they put him on antibiotics?

Just talked to him - i guess they gave them to him before it was identified as viral. :confused:
 

DAWeinG

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2001
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Antibiotics don't kill viruses, antivirals do. :)

Edit: Good to hear your dad's ok. I've seen a couple spinal taps before and it just gives me the chills.
 

meltdown75

Lifer
Nov 17, 2004
37,548
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I was bitten 3 times Thursday night @ golf. All on my frickin' left foot! :| pesky skeeters!
 

neutralizer

Lifer
Oct 4, 2001
11,552
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Fortunately mosquito repellant works wonders, the natural kind smells good too. I'm bringing back one of those electrified racket thingies from china though, those ought to be fun for whacking those damn pesky flying insects in my dorm room :).
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: neutralizer
Fortunately mosquito repellant works wonders, the natural kind smells good too. I'm bringing back one of those electrified racket thingies from china though, those ought to be fun for whacking those damn pesky flying insects in my dorm room :).

Natural kind?