Above: My last dose of malaria meds
Sunday 10/4/09 Gulu, Uganda
Last week I got malaria for the second time. I had a sore neck at work that slowly morphed into an odd back-of-the-head headache.
When I went to the doctor, I told him my symptoms. In addition to the achy neck, I explained, I had a few strange sores on my back and feet that refused to close up and heal. For more than a week, five or six penny-sized sores had been annoying me. Hearing this, the doctor paused for a moment and tried to think of an explanation for the symptom cocktail.
“It’s either syphilis or malaria,” he said finally.
I almost laughed out loud. I didn’t know what to say.
One blood test and ten minutes later, the doctor entered the room and declared, “Syphilis, no. Malaria, yes.”
“What about the sores?” I asked. “The malaria doesn’t explain the sores.”
Again he thought.
“Have you touched any Ugandan children lately?” he asked.
“I don’t think so,” I said, unsure of what he was getting at.
He went on to explain that children in east Africa often spread bacterial and fungal skin infections to one another. Shaking hands with an infected child could be enough to spark transmission. Unconcerned about the sores, the doctor said to wash them with soap and water, wait a week, and see what happens.
*****
I’m feeling better now. Once again, though, I find myself reminded of how fickle health can be. As hard as I try after each battle with sickness—be it big or small—I always seem to slip into a state of non-awareness in regards to my health, one in which I take my health for granted and rarely take a moment out of my day to be thankful for my ten toes and fingers, my functioning eyes, and my beating heart.
Just back from a camping trip with friends, where a conversation came up about what it would be like to do a long-term bike trip, and of course I had to share your story and site with them too. They, like many, were truly amazed! So thought I’d pop on your site to see what you were up to, and look at this… malaria again? Those nasty pesky bugs! Sorry to hear they bit back again. Glad to hear you’re doing okay. Take care Andrew and good luck with your daily African adventures! Warm wishes for a strong healthy streak to you!
By: April on October 23, 2009
at 8:34 pm
Nerdy trivia fact for you, which you might already know: the word Malaria comes from the latin words “mal” meaning “bad” and “aria” meaning “air.” The Romans who ventured near the swamplands on the outskirts of the empire would contract the disease. Knowing nothing about the connection of insects to disease at that time, though, they blamed the sickness on the thick air that surrounded the swamps. Hence… malaria, the bad air. Hope you’re feeling better!
By: Mark on November 10, 2009
at 1:20 am