After 6 days of fever and we are off to HK!

YES! Reese is clear of fever and diarrhea (antibiotics). This morning he woke up fresh (still a little weak) and asked, "Can we go to Hong Kong today?"

The past 6 days were really tiring, filled with uncertainty and drama. On Monday late afternoon, he had a slight temperature and we thought ok... it's only Monday, slight fever and should recover in a few days. After all, we will only travel on Sunday.

Tuesday first thing in the morning took him to pediatrician and got fever medicine and antibiotic (traveling else will wait after 3 days then only prescribe). So for 3 days fever came and went and on the third day (Thursday).... it got worse. Went to pediatrician again and got a second antibiotic together with a reference letter in case there is a need to go for blood test. Gosh, we were racing against time to get him well before the trip!

Friday came and fever went out of control! Was at it's peak 40.2 degrees. SMS pediatrician and was told to go ER and get the fever down and do a blood test. Then the drama at ER. We were quite sure that the trip was going to be canceled.

Saturday came and it was quite good, fever was gone but Reese started to have loose stool and then diarrhea. So we went to the pediatrician again to get some medication for that and also probiotics.

Ah! Maybe we can go after all and packed our bags and told ourselves that if this morning he is fine then we will go. We hate to disappoint him as this trip was planned especially for him and he was really looking forward to it! Family and friends have been praying hard. God is good! Amen!

So fever for six days and it cost us Rm600+ in medical fees!

First ER Experience

This morning, Reese's fever shoot up to 39.8 degrees and upon consultation with his pediatrician, we were asked to go to the ER and get a blood test as well. So we went to Pantai Hospital, Bangsar.

Reese was definitely not feeling too well, and the moment he saw me turning into the hospital, he started to whine and asked to go home. He didn't want to go to the hospital. I was alone with him and felt a little worried whether I can handle him, nonetheless I went ahead and took him to the ER together with a reference letter from our pediatrician. After 5 to 10 minutes, we went in and was told that they are going to bring the fever down first because it was 40.2 degrees. So the nurse inserted a suppository and didn't do a good job because my boy shouted "It's painful!".

Next, blood test. Not a good thing. Didn't know exactly what to expect but knew it was going to be ugly. First, they put a blanket and got my boy to lie down (kinda force). At this moment, my boy is already crying, scared and confused. Then immediately they wrapped him up only exposing the hand that they were going to insert an IV needle. Everything happened very quickly. Hardly anytime for my son to fight back. Once he was wrapped, immediately 1 nurse pin herself on Reese's body, one went for his exposed arm and I was left to handle his legs. The medical officer immediately went to work on the IV needle and getting blood samples. 2 little tubes in total. My boy was screaming and shouting and struggling to get free. The whole ER room was about to be brought down by Reese's voice... I was fighting back tears. It was tough. Everything was done in less than 15 minutes I think.

Then it was the waiting time. Took him for an ice-cream treat and my aunt came to check on him. After almost 2 hours, we were called into the ER room and met the medical officer. Reese was cleared. He has viral fever. Some strong virus infection. Just need to let it run it's course. Nothing can be done but to control his fever. Got the green light to go home but if by tomorrow fever still high and not controllable, he will have to be admitted. My parents came to visit him at the hospital too... :)

We are still hoping for a small miracle that he will be completely recovered by tomorrow night so that we can still go to Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon.

At the ER Room:

Enjoying his lollipop before the blood test

After the blood test and was smiling because he got to eat BR chocolate ice-cream. Here posing with his grandaunt who came to be with us for a while.

Waiting for the blood test result and telling/showing his ipod to a nurse about HK Disneyland, what kind of parade they have and bla..bla..bla...

Yippie! He can go home... taking the IV needle out

Totally exhausted while traveling home

G6PD Deficiency (and its severe case called Favism)

One of the routine tests that hospitals do on newborns in Malaysia is for G6PD deficiency. Do you know what that is? I didn't have a clue neither does hubby or our families. When Reese was born, we were told that he is G6PD deficient and has to stay at least 5 days in the hospital at the NIKU ward for observation. My first reaction was to cry...I thought Reese had some terrible defect or illness!! The pediatrician assured me that it was just a routine procedure. A requirement by the government and it was quite common in Southeast Asia. In that five days... almost every other day Reese was poked at the toes to get blood for blood test. He had very high jaudice and only after 2 months plus before the jaundice disappeared.

So what is G6PD deficiency?

G6PD Deficiency is a hereditary abnormality in the activity of an erythrocyte (red blood cell) enzyme. This enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), is essential for assuring a normal life span for red blood cells, and for oxidizing processes. This enzyme deficiency may provoke the sudden destruction of red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia with jaundice following the intake of fava beans, certain legumes and various drugs

The defect is sex-linked, transmitted from mother (usually a healthy carrier) to son (or daughter, who would be a healthy carrier too. This is due to the fact that the structure of G-6-PD is carried on the X chromosome: As stated by Ernest Beutler, M.D., "in females, only one of the two X chromosomes in each cell is active; consequently, female heterozygotes for G-6-PD deficiency have two populations of red cells; deficient cells and normal cells."

The deficit is most prevalent in Africa (affecting up to 20% of the population), but is common also around the Mediterranean (4% - 30%) and Southeast Asia. Please note that there are more than 400 genetic variants of the deficiency. You can determine whether you are G-6-PD deficient by a simple blood test. To determine your variant, you must test yourself at specialized genetic labs.

The Symptoms

• Sudden rise of body temperature and yellow coloring of skin and mucous membrane.
• Dark yellow-orange urine.
• Pallor, fatigue, general deterioration of physical conditions.
• Heavy, fast breathing.
• Weak, rapid pulse.

Risk

With G-6-PD deficiency you can have a perfectly normal life, provided you avoid certain drugs and foodstuffs. It is therefore of great importance to learn whether you or your baby suffer from the deficiency, so that you can watch your diet and drug intake, and warn your physician or pediatrician.

What to do in case of hemolytic crisis

1. Upon detecting the symptoms listed above, you should either call your physician or pediatrician, or go directly to the nearest hospital. Avoid the intake of any drugs.
2. You would most probably be requested to list all foodstuffs and drugs taken in the preceding 48 hours, so try to recall and list them.

What are the chances of passing G6PD to your kids?

A) If the father is unaffected (healthy) and the mother is a carrier (no clinical symptoms):

• One daughter out of two will be a carrier
• One son out of two will be G6PD deficient

B) If the father is G6PD deficient and the mother is unaffected:

• All daughters will be carriers
• All sons will be unaffected

C) If the father is G6PD deficient and the mother is a carrier:

• One daughter out of two will be G6PD deficient
• One daughter out of two will be a carrier
• One son out of two will be G6PD deficient
• One son out of two will be unaffected

D) If the father is unaffected and the mother is G6PD deficient:

• All daughters will be carriers
• All sons will be G6PD deficient

E) If both father and mother are G6PD deficient:

• All daughters will be G6PD deficient
• All sons will be G6PD deficient

How would you call fava beans in other languages?

English: Fava beans, broad beans;
Chinese: Tzan-Doo;
Malay: Kacang Parang

Is there a cure for the condition?

Nope. Just have to avoid certain medication and foodstuff. You can refer to G6PD Deficiency Association for more information on the medication and food stuff to avoid. Before we left the hospital, they gave us a small card that told us some of the things that Reese cannot consume. Besides certain antibiotics and fava beans it also mentioned that he cannot take Chinese herbs and ginger. He cannot touch or even inhale mothballs. After consulting some doctors, there are only certain Chinese herbs that should be avoided and I found this website that describes them. Lew's Info . Apparently ginger can also be taken.

Source: www.g6pd.org