The payment for the walk around the lakes was that both Louis and Ralph(who were in the back pack most of the time) developed tick bite fever (and Ceri yet again made the diagnosis). Louis needed some heavy antibiotics and Ralph cleared it after a 10 day up and down illness. Cecily (despite wearing only swim wear) managed to dodge the bugs but suffered scratches and 'possible scarring' due to very prickly grass tufts at the beginning of the walk.
We developed many different types of rashes and at some point Ceri dosed us all with anti scabies lotion(with no real evidence based improvement). It was probably some sort of tropical thing because we are now all ok and I believe Cecily's skin is also good.
During our stay in Africa we had a few malaria scares. We didn't take any profilaxis / anti-malarials so needed to be cautious and act on unexplained temperatures. Ralphie had 2 tests in the year(which was a highly sensitive finger prick test-done in casualty) and Ceri had one malaria test which turned out to be tick bite fever.
The public health agency sprays all houses and medical wards twice a year with some or other chemical(not DDT). We missed the 1st spray because there was no warning and they arrived at 06h00 one morning announcing their intention... dressed in atronaut type clothes looking like forensic specialists...very frightening!
We developed many different types of rashes and at some point Ceri dosed us all with anti scabies lotion(with no real evidence based improvement). It was probably some sort of tropical thing because we are now all ok and I believe Cecily's skin is also good.
During our stay in Africa we had a few malaria scares. We didn't take any profilaxis / anti-malarials so needed to be cautious and act on unexplained temperatures. Ralphie had 2 tests in the year(which was a highly sensitive finger prick test-done in casualty) and Ceri had one malaria test which turned out to be tick bite fever.
The public health agency sprays all houses and medical wards twice a year with some or other chemical(not DDT). We missed the 1st spray because there was no warning and they arrived at 06h00 one morning announcing their intention... dressed in atronaut type clothes looking like forensic specialists...very frightening!
If anyone knows how to remove an unwanted picture-please email me! The picture is of a braai with marshmallows -not suitable for a slide on diseases.
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