This question http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80501-0002.htm raised the way we respond to an infection that children can get in parks and playgrounds. I don’t doubt there have been some serious consequences from the infection but they are rare and the media does find difficulty in handling these questions without raising excessive fears that result in over protective parenting or an over protective society.
I noticed an item in some newspaper yesterday that claimed computer keyboards can be more infectious than toilet seats! I’m sure it’s possible and I am all in favour of sensible hygiene but we do need to remember that we build up resistance to infections by a degree of exposure and that bugs build up resistance if we disinfect everything. Over protection is a bad idea and counter productive in the long run. Life is not a risk free experience – for bugs or us!
As the system is refusing to allow me to put my name at the top of this post it is from Lord Soley. The same applies to the last post on public information.
What do you think of the news story this week that research shows that children who mix with other children are less likely to suffer from Leukaemia if they mix with other children?
Here’s an article on that story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7370773.stm
Sorry about the way I phrased this last time but I’ll re-phrase this to show relevance:
What do you think of the report this week that not mixing with other children leads to an increased risk (30% greater than average) of childhood leukaemia. The researchers believe that the increase in childhood infections by the group mixing with other children may help the immune system function properly.
Whoops! Now that I’ve read the link I realise that my question was surplus to requirements.
I see Lord Soley blogged here on this topic and so my reply is for My Lord and others that may be interested in aspects of Staph infections in UK.
My Lord,
I understand your comment and I agree with you that ‘Life is not a risk free experience’ but microbial resistance is bringing us to a point where it seems to be very dangerous for old people to be in NHS hospitals. Do you have a view on the possible use of a vaccine against Staph infection in hospital (perhaps best known – but not most accurately – as MRSA)? I’ll be very interested to learn your view.
RL
Richard. I don’t have enough information to be sure of my views on this but I suspect that MRSA is such an issue now that we have to get hospitals to deep clean. There is a constant struggle between new vaccines and new drugs and drug resistant bugs. I ought to get one of the many medical Peers to answer this one!