5 things you could learn Chidimma

thereadersroom.org

 Hi L2 Readers! (Boom! How ‘bout dah?) Hope you’re having a good year so far.

Today, we have a guest on our blog, Yaaay! This is going to become a thing by the way, so let me know what you think.

Back in the day, I worked as a Microbiologist in one of the leading pathology laboratories in Nigeria, and during my early intern days before I became full-time, I worked with a very intelligent and goal-driven lady by the name Chidimma Kayla Ezenduka-Ezike. She is a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist who has a passion for promoting knowledge and good laboratory practice…and she’s also my friend! So, LetLucia Readers, meet Chidmma. Chidimma, LetLucia Readers (For my non-Nigerian readers, her name is pronounce Chee-dee-mmah).

She recently put up a simple Facebook post that clarified a certain issue she had identified having worked in the clinical medicine field for over 5 years in Nigeria. When I read it, I couldn’t help but ask to put it up on the blog so that more people can get informed. I’ll cut right to it:

“Be guided! If you go to the hospital for tests when you fall ill, this is for you. Study the result very well! If it reads “Malaria Parasite and Typhoid” or something similar, please send me a message (you can find her on Facebook), so I can direct you to where you can go for a proper work up.

I cannot get tired of saying this: Malaria parasite is not a diagnosis!!!!! And there is no way you can have malaria and typhoid and still be walking on your two legs, unless you are the legendary Typhoid Mary.

When salmonellosis (Typhoid fever) is suspected, usually a serial Widal test is done, plus stool and blood culture so a definitive diagnosis of Salmonellosis can be reached. Why? It is because of the limitations of the results of a conventional Widal test which includes the test cannot distinguish between a current infection and a previous infection, or vaccination against typhoid. And no, you cannot have both malaria and typhoid at the same time and still be active, neither can “your typhoid” be “small” (it’s not uncommon to hear some Nigerians say this).

These sharp practices must stop. There is already an antibiotic resistance problem worldwide, so proper testing and diagnosis is becoming very necessary. No short cuts, no hanky panky.”

And to her fellow scientists, she said:

Dear colleagues, please fear God. When you run a Widal test and the titres are high, do well to suggest a proper follow up test, like blood or stool culture, instead of spreading panic. It is not right at all! From experience, most of these people with high titres do not even have salmonellosis but are given antibiotics they do not even need!”

There you have it. I just couldn’t agree more. While the health sector in Nigeria is undergoing reforms, we could ponder on these few things: 
  1. The point is not to argue with your doctor using knowledge gathered from the internet, but rather to know what questions to ask
  2. Visit only reputable government or private owned healthcare facilities
  3. It’s okay to seek second opinion from another hospital or diagnostic laboratory
  4. Don’t take antibiotics not prescribed by a qualified medical personnel in order to curb antibiotic resistance
  5. And no, you really cannot have malaria and typhoid at the same time and still be active. It’s a deadly combination!
I hope you learned something new. I sure did!
Until next time, stay safe.

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