NOTE- You will not see reference to H1N1, swines, Tamaflu medication, or any other medical hogwash (pun intended) here, since I do believe that the 'swine flu' epidemic is nearly as much of a threat as the accompanying panic, misinformation, rushed-to-market vaccines, and medi over-hype about them are.
Instead, I'd like to talk about a disease that I feel strongly about preventing but that doesn't receive nearly the attention by the medical community or the media as it should : Homesickness. (My mother, right at this moment, is suffering from an acute case, which is why I am doing a rare double-blog-day.)
So, here is the critical information about Homesickness, as confirmed by the CDC, WHO, UNICEF, NFL, AFLCIO, and SNL (that last one is Saturday Night Live, for those of you who don't know):
Homesickness is a serious disorder that affects nearly 100% of children at some point between 18 months and 10 years of age. Further, incidents of homesickness in adults is widely under reported, but estimates range from 30% to 75% of adults experiencing at least a minor case of the disease each year.
Homesickness can strike any person. The most vulnerable populations are those with strong family relationships and stable, loving homes, though socioeconomic status does not seem to be an indicator in the likelihood of getting the disease. Those with pets also seem more prone to this disease.
Though research on this disease is limted, experts believe it to be seasonal, as most cases in adults occur in November and December, with peaks around the third week (particularly Thursday) of November and the last two weeks of December. Occasional bouts in the summer time also occur in adults.
In children, the greatest chance of coming down with homesickness occurs during the school year (with most cases beginning on Fridays), and for a few weeks in the summer. It is believed that children spread home sickness during summer camps, so parents are advised to use extreme caution before sending their children away from home for an extended period of time. In children, the onset generally occurs between 9:00 and 11:00 p.m., with many cases peaking later in the night, often necessitating a parent to come and get the child in order to lessen the chance of spreading it to others.
Homesickness can sometimes be confused with whiny-child syndrome, profound insecurity, generalized separation anxiety, a crash after a sugar-high, or insomnia. However, a closer examination of symptoms usually makes it easy to differentiate this disorder from the others.
Although there is no known vaccination, there are steps that can be taken to prevent the disease, as well as treatment options to ease symptoms.
PREVENTION:
Wash Your Hands Often: Though the actual pathogen that causes this disease has never been successfully cultured and isolated, doctors believe that frequent hand washing will help stop the spread of the disease. Researchers theorize that bathrooms are the least likely room to trigger an outbreak of homesickness, and therefore the more time spent in a bathroom, the less time you will be engaging in other activities that put you at risk for catching the disease.
Drink Plenty of Water: Adequate hydration is a good preventative measure, and becomes increasingly important should you actually catch homesicknesses. One of the most serious side effects of the disease is dehydration due to fluid loss through tears. Additionally, those who drink plenty of water will be less likely to be drinking alcoholic beverages. There has been a link in certain studies between the intake of alcohol and sudden-onset (or "blubbering") homesickness.
Get Enough Sleep Each Night: Rest is essential for building a strong immune system. Most cases of homesickness occur in those who have not gotten enough sleep, though it's unclear whether the lack of sleep causes the disease or is a symptom of the disease. Doctor Familia Casa-Amor, a leading homesickness researcher from Mayo Clinic, has determined that the more hours a person spends sleeping, the less likely the are to have a typical case of homesickness, though a rarer form which exhibits intense dreams and sleep walking or weeping does sometimes occur in the overnight hours.
Avoid Unnecessary Contact With Strangers: Since this disease is highly contagious, care should be taken to avoid those who you suspect might have the disease. The incubation period of homesickness is long - sometimes up to 10 years - which means that people are often capable of spreading the disease before they exhibit symptoms. It is believed that people who are difficult, unpleasant, unintelligent, belligerent, dull, or lacking in personal hygeine are most likely to cause outbreaks. Scientists are not clear whether this is because these patients have qualities that make one long for loved ones and home, or because they remind people of loved ones and home.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU CATCH HOMESICKNESS
There are generally two schools of thought on appropriate treatment methods.
Some doctors opt for a treatment plan that isolates and quarantines patients, so as to lessen the spread to others. In this case, doctors will typically advise patients to avoid thoughts of loved ones, long-distance phone calls, familiar (or "comfort") foods, photograph albums, online networking sites, and certain types of movies (most notably those that are classified as "chick flicks") Patients who have used such treatment show an initial decrease in symptoms, but show frequently relapses in the weeks and months following the initial onset. These relapses are often more severe than the original outbreak, often leading to erratic eating habits (including consumption of mass quantities of chocolate), weight gain, moodiness, inability to concentrate, and frequent re-playing of certain songs. This treatment plan is rapidly losing favor among health care professionals, and generally considered ineffective and even unsafe.
More standard and accepted current practice for the treatment of homesickness involves a rigorous regimine involving visits with family (typically by phone or other technology firist, and then in person). Though doctors initially worried about spreading the disease through contact, it has been found that family members are usually immune to homesickness from others who are related biologically or by marriage or long-term friendship. Doctors should be careful to warn patients that symptoms may recur for a brief period after the contact (both in the person originally affected and in others who were exposed), though the outbreak is generally mild in nature and clears up within a day or two. This mirrors the type of reaction that is common after a vaccination and should not be cause for worry.
The most important thing to remember if you or someone you love has a case of homesickness is that time is of the essence. Do not wait to begin your treatment plan, or serious and lasting side effects could occur. Someday doctors hope to erradicate this disease permanently, but until then, take good care of yourself, hug your babies as often as possilbe, tell your parents that you love them, visit friends whenever you can, and enjoy each moment of each day.
(Note - this blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure homesickness, swine flu, scruffula, severe dandruff, golfer's elbow, or any other disease or disorder.)
You are funny! What is scruffula?It sounds more like a body part that should be kept covered than a disease!
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