ABSTRACT
Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii contribute to the development of Valley Fever. The ability of these fungal pathogens to evade the host immune system creates difficulty in recognition and treatment of this debilitating infection. In this review, we describe the current knowledge of Valley Fever and approaches to improve prevention, detection, and treatment.
Subject(s)
Coccidioides/isolation & purification , Coccidioidomycosis/microbiology , Dust , Environmental Microbiology , Coccidioides/pathogenicity , Coccidioidomycosis/diagnosis , Coccidioidomycosis/drug therapy , Coccidioidomycosis/prevention & control , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The experiences of young people who have siblings with life-limiting illnesses are not well understood. AIM: The study proposed to identify the concerns of siblings of pediatric palliative care (PPC) patients. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENT: Semistructured interviews were administered to participants and analyzed using qualitative inductive thematic analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Study subjects were 18 siblings of PPC patients aged 9 to 22 living in the Auckland area. RESULTS: The siblings of PPC patients held concerns about their siblings' impending death and desires to be involved in their lives and care. CONCLUSIONS: Siblings may benefit from opportunities to be involved in conversations about mortality and the care of their ill sibling. They are able to express their concerns and help provide care to PPC patients.
Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Palliative Care/psychology , Siblings/psychology , Terminally Ill/psychology , Adolescent , Anticipation, Psychological , Child , Child, Preschool , Communication , Female , Grief , Humans , Male , New Zealand , Qualitative Research , Young AdultABSTRACT
The perspectives of young New Zealanders receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC) are not well understood. A qualitative study of the perceptions of 16 PPC patients and their siblings, aged 9 to 18, was conducted through audio and written diary accounts. Inductive thematic analysis revealed several concerns. of participants, including special treatment that patients had received, spending time with their families, their feelings of being judged or discriminated against, their sense of being understood themselves and of understanding others, and mortality. A nonjudgemental, open approach is recommended when consulting with patients and their siblings in order to determine their needs.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Family Relations , Palliative Care , Siblings , Terminally Ill/psychology , Adolescent , Anthropology, Cultural , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Narration , New ZealandABSTRACT
Communication about death is often a sensitive topic in families with children. The present studied compared answers of 141 school children aged 5-7 to questions about death, and their caregivers' predictions. Children were interviewed, and caregivers answered on paper, questions on inevitability, applicability, irreversibility, cessation, causation, and personal mortality. For causation, cessation, and irreversibility, children were significantly more correct than caregivers expected, and girls were more correct on applicability. Communicating with children about death may not always be as caregivers expect.