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Features

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

TB elimination: Now is the time!

[JULY 1, 2002]  While tuberculosis is an ancient disease, it is also one of the world’s deadliest. Each year, 8 million people around the world become sick with TB. One-third of the world’s population is infected with the TB bacillus. Each year, there are over 2 million TB-related deaths worldwide. TB is the leading killer of people who are HIV-infected, accounting for one-third of AIDS deaths worldwide. TB causes more deaths among women worldwide than all causes of maternal mortality combined.

What is tuberculosis? TB is caused by an organism called myco bacterium tuberculosis. When a person with active TB disease coughs or sneezes, tiny particles containing M. tuberculosis may be expelled into the air. If another person inhales air that contains these particles, transmission from one person to another may occur. However, not everyone infected with the TB germ becomes sick; as a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and active TB disease — both of which are treatable and curable.  [See comparative chart.]

If your doctor feels you need treatment for LTBI or active TB disease, it is very important to take all of medicines as directed. If you are noncompliant, it can become a drug-resistant strain of TB that can be very hard to treat.

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TB skin testing is recommended for certain areas of employment and for certain high-risk groups. TB skin testing is also required for children in some day-care programs and preschool programs. TB skin testing is also recommended before traveling to and after returning from a high-risk country. When the TB skin test is given it will need to be checked in two to three days. This requires two visits from the client.

TB skin tests are given free of charge to residents of Logan County. These tests are available from the Logan County Health Department Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 4:30, on a walk-in basis. TB skin tests are also available on the rural medi-van. If you have any questions, please call Logan County Health Department, (217) 735-2317.

[News release]

Red Cross

Red Cross blood drives in July

[JULY 3, 2002]  The American Red Cross will have two blood drives at the Lincoln Sports Complex in July. They will be sponsored by Lincoln Printers, Inc. On July 3, hours will be from noon until 6 p.m. Hours on July 17 will be from noon until 5 p.m.

Also on July 17, Faith Lutheran Church will host a drive from noon until 6 p.m.

Atlanta Christian Church will be the site for a drive from noon until 6 p.m. July 18.

St. Peter Lutheran Church in Emden will host a drive on July 26, with hours from 2 until 6 p.m.

During June, the following people reached milestones in their blood donations: Willard Emmons, 13 gallons; Joe Reichle, 12; Nancy A. Lahr, seven; Larry J. Lessen, six; W.B. Franz, five; Richard D. Martin, three; Beverly Lessen, two; Paul Eckert, two; Thomas Steiner, two; Carolyn Follis, one; and Ruth A. Fredericks, one gallon.

Honors & Awards

Announcements

Tests that could save your life

[JULY 9, 2002]  Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and the Healthy Communities Partnership are co-sponsoring Life Line Screening at the hospital on Friday, July 12. Life Line Screening, a mobile screening service, enables participants to be checked for vascular disease or osteoporosis as part of a prevention plan. The screenings can help determine, in less than 10 minutes, whether a person is at risk of suffering from a stroke. Stroke, which is the third-leading cause of death in America, is also the No. 1 cause for nursing home admissions. Half of all stroke victims have no warning signs before a stroke occurs.

The tests consist of quick, non-invasive, painless screenings for vascular disease using the most advanced Doppler ultrasound technology. The screenings will rapidly detect arterial abnormalities, which can cause irregular blood flow.

Life Line is dedicated to providing the highest quality imaging technology at an affordable rate so that people can become aware of undetected health problems. A board-certified physician, who is fully insured and licensed to practice, reviews and confirms all screening results. Participants are then encouraged to seek follow-up care with their own physician.

The complete vascular screening package consists of three tests. The first is the carotid artery/stroke screening. This test scans the carotid arteries in the neck for buildup of fatty plaque, which leads to stroke. According to the National Stoke Association, this is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems. The second test, the abdominal aortic aneurysm screening, helps detect the existence of an aneurysm (enlargement) in the abdominal aorta that could lead to a ruptured aortic artery. The third test screens for peripheral arterial disease in the lower extremities, which is linked to coronary artery disease.

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These three tests cost $40 each or $99 for all three. Osteoporosis screenings will also be available for $35, to determine abnormal bone mass density in men and women. The cost for all four tests is $125. Participants must preregister.

Medicare does not cover the cost of the screenings, and Life Line does not file insurance claims. For more information or to preregister call Life Line Screening at 1 (800) 407-4557.

[News release]

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.

Community resource list

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership and the Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.         

(updated 2-15-02)

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