OT - Chickenpox and the Lakers

[exculpatory]

I probably should say something about this as an internist (as well as an endocrinologist) because it could have implications for Kobe and Artest (who apparently did not develop natural immunity to chicken pox as children because they apparently never had chicken pox as children, and, in addition, who apparently never received the chicken pox (varicella) virus vaccination.

Assuming these guys were exposed to an infectious Steve Blake, I guarrantee you that the Laker medical staff (after consultation with an infectious disease doc in LA) have already vaccinated Kobe and Artest, and, in addition, are treating them with prophylactic acyclovir (an anti-viral medication) - in an attempt to abort an active case of chicken pox in these gentlemen.

In addition, the non-dermatologic manifestations of chicken pox in adults are more frequent and serious in adults suffering a virgin, "first time" episode of chicken pox. These complications include very serious varicella pneumonia, meningoencephalitis, and septic arthritis among other things. I do not wish this on anybody.

The incubation period is 1-2 weeks, so time will tell if Kobe and Artest actually develop chicken pox at all, and, if they do, how ill they will become.

[Marvel]

I've had pox once or twice when i was a kid. I really can't remember how bad it was or how sick i felt, but man does it make you look ugly.

I DO remember how sick i was when i had bronchitis...

[exculpatory]

I've had pox once or twice when I was a kid. I really can't remember how bad it was or how sick I felt, but man does it make you look ugly.

I DO remember how sick I was when I had bronchitis...

If the "bronchitis" occurred in conjunction with the bullovesicular rash typically seen with chicken pox, you probably had a mild case of pneumonia and did not know it because Chest Xrays are not often performed in kids with dermatologic chicken pox.

Nonetheless, you (in contrast to Kobe and Ron Ron) are definitely immune now as an adult with one exception. If you ever become immunocompromised (God forbid), you (and all of us who had chicken pox as kids) are at risk for what is called "shingles" = Herpes Zoster. The varicella-zoster virus lays dormant in nerve roots, which can reactivate and result in "shingles" - especially in people who become immunocompromised due to certain malignancies and/or the immunosuppressive therapy which is required to treat the malignancy. "Shingles" is different than typical chicken pox (in a child or adult) in that the rash develops along the distribution of nerve roots; and even after it heals, very painful post-herpetic neuralgia can develop.

[Geoffrey P]

I probably know about every 5th word in that encyclopedia you just wrote.

[bendyone]

Is this a basketball forum? My head just exploded!

BEAT LA! BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

Now I feel better.

[Froob]

Bynum has never had it either, if he gets it he'll probably be out for like months lol.

[Marvel]

If the "bronchitis" occurred in conjunction with the bullovesicular rash typically seen with chicken pox, you probably had a mild case of pneumonia and did not know it because Chest Xrays are not often performed in kids with dermatologic chicken pox.

I would say so, it certainly felt like it.

Man i'm glad i stuck to basketball at school, these words make me feel like i'm at kindegarten again.

[exculpatory]

If the "bronchitis" occurred in conjunction with the bullovesicular rash typically seen with chicken pox, you probably had a mild case of pneumonia and did not know it because Chest Xrays are not often performed in kids with dermatologic chicken pox.

I would say so. It certainly felt like it.

Man I'm glad I stuck to basketball at school. These words make me feel like I'm at kindergarten again.

Marvel & Tangel: Relax, guys. This is called "doc-speak" or "medicalese." You are not supposed to know these words. LOL. This is my profession. When I speak with my dad (a former Wall Streeter) or my financial advisor, they have to dumb it down for me because I am not at all fluent in "business-speak".

Or as Tangel knows especially because he has kindly helped me with the simplest kind of IT stuff, I am not very good at "computer-speak" either. LOL.

[KGboss]

Chemical warfare!

[Pogue Mahone]

I had chicken pox twice; once as a toddler but I only had two visible pocks (possible misdiagnosis) and then again when I was 21 when my body wasn't fully recovered from Sapper training. One of the army doctors said that a mature man who gets chicken pox might be susceptible to sterility. Thankfully my stuff works!

[exculpatory]

I had chicken pox twice; once as a toddler but I only had two visible pox (possible misdiagnosis) and then again when I was 21 when my body wasn't fully recovered from Sapper training. One of the army doctors said that a mature man who gets chicken pox might be susceptible to sterility. Thankfully my stuff works!

Actually, your doc probably confused adult chicken pox with adult mumps. The latter notoriously can result in infertility (a sequelae of mumps orchitis); chicken pox rarely does this.

[ParticleMan]

both my daughters were vaccinated but still got chicken pox. the doc said it was more mild than if they had not been vaccinated, tho. maybe kobe and ronron will still end up getting chicken pox even if vaccinated. it was still pretty serious, though it only lasted a few days.

[irie]

I've never had it.. I'm 25.

[exculpatory]

Both of my daughters were vaccinated, but still got chicken pox. The doc said it was more mild than if they had not been vaccinated, tho. Maybe Kobe and ronron will still end up getting chicken pox even if vaccinated. It was still pretty serious, though it only lasted a few days.

I guarrantee you that Kobe and Ron Ron are also getting treated with prophylactic acyclovir to further decrease the odds of actually developing chicken pox, or, if they do manifest chicken pox, developing an even milder case without the very serious non-dermatologic complications that occur more frequently in adults (e.g., pneumonia).

[exculpatory]

I think that Phil Jackson just made a critical strategic decision regarding how to properly utilize Steve Blake. He has been sent on a special mission. He has been instructed to take Kevin Durant, Westbrook, Duncan, Parker, Manu, Dirk and Jet Terry to dinner and shake their hands alot.

[Geoffrey P]

Can't win without playing fair can they