Thursday, February 08, 2007

THE VIRUS ATTACKS

4 hari 3 malam saya ditahan. Ayahanda & bonda turut menemani saya dari mula saya ditahan hinggalah ke hari saya dibebaskan. Semuanya gara-gara Bronchiolitis.

Beberapa hari sebelum itu, sejurus selepas bermalam di rumah Ayah Long tatkala menantikan kepulangan Tok Ayah dari tanah suci Mekah, saya rasa tidak sedap badan. Terasa panas, disusuli dengan batuk yang disulami dengan kahak. Mulanya, ayahanda & bonda menjangkakan saya hanya demam biasa, lalu membawa saya ke pusat rawatan untuk menjalani pemeriksaan biasa serta mengambil ubat-ubatan. Itu pun secara kebetulan apabila kami merentasi Jalan Ampang dalam perjalanan ke rumah saudara dengan niat memperkenalkan 'orang baru' kepada saya. Hamper yang terbungkus indah turut dibawa sebagai buah tangan.

Di pusat rawatan lain pula ceritanya. Imej x-ray hasil dari ujian makmal mengesahkan terdapat ketulan-ketulan kahak mula bersarang di bahagian paru-paru saya. Bimbang akan kemungkinan jangkitan kuman, saya diarahkan untuk ditahan serta-merta. Ayahanda & bonda terpaksa akur dengan arahan doktor dan dengan setia menemani saya sehingga ke akhirnya.

Terima kasih kepada saudara mara serta sahabat handai ayahanda & bonda yang sudi melawat saya di wad. Juga kepada insan-insan yang tidak putus-putus menelefon dan menghantar mesej, bertanya khabar perihal keadaan saya. Begitu juga dengan kakitangan wad pediatrik, Gleaneagles Intan Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur, terutama sekali buat Dato' Dr. Vernon Lee yang begitu komited dalam memberikan layanan serta melaksanakan tugas mereka.

Saya meninggalkan Gleaneagles dengan meneruskan kembali perjalanan yang tertangguh 4 hari sebelumnya. Berkenalan dengan 'orang baru'.


Nota kaki:
Bronchiolitis is a common illness of the respiratory tract caused by a respiratory infection that affects the tiny airways, called the bronchioles, that lead to the lungs. As these airways become inflamed, they swell and fill with mucus, making it difficult for a child to breathe.

The illness affects infants and young children most often because their small airways can become blocked more easily than those of older children or adults. Bronchiolitis typically occurs during the first 2 years of life, with the peak occurrence at about 3 to 6 months of age. It's more common in males, children who have not been breastfed, and children who live in crowded conditions. Day-care attendance and exposure to cigarette smoke can also increase the likelihood that an infant will develop bronchiolitis.

Although it's often a mild illness, some infants are at risk for a more severe disease that requires hospitalization. Conditions that increase the risk of severe infection include prematurity, prior chronic heart or lung disease, and a weakened immune system due to illness or medications. Children who have had bronchiolitis may be more likely to develop asthma later in life, but it's unclear whether bronchiolitis causes or triggers asthma, or whether children who eventually go on to develop asthma were simply more prone to developing bronchiolitis as infants. Studies are being done to clarify the relationship between bronchiolitis and the later development of asthma.

Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a viral infection, most commonly respiratory syncytial virusinfluenza and adenovirus. (RSV). RSV infections are responsible for more than half of all cases of the illness and are most widespread in the winter and early spring. Other viruses associated with bronchiolitis include

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