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Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Lifestyle
Teen Who Nearly Died Urges Area Residents To Get Flu Shots Teen Who Nearly Died Urges Area Residents To Get Flu Shots
Teen Who Nearly Died Urges Area Residents To Get Flu Shots This year’s flu season is in its infancy, but one Hudson Valley teenager is encouraging area residents to get their flu shots after she nearly died from flu-related symptoms. Last year, 13-year-old Rebecca Berak, of Poughkeepsie, tested positive for influenza and within hours of her diagnosis, her fever spiked to 106-degrees. Her influenza led to necrotizing pneumonia, throwing her body into sudden shock, acute respiratory failure and kidney failure.  With uncertainty about whether she would survive, Berak spent weeks on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma in Maria Fareri Chi…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Is There A 'Right' Way To Wash Your Hands? Is There A 'Right' Way To Wash Your Hands?
Is There A 'Right' Way To Wash Your Hands? During the height of cold and flu season, using warm soap and water to clean your hands is important to reduce the risk of infection. A seemingly mindless task, washing your hands actually requires a bit of attention to effectively avert contraction. According to Dr. Sheila Nolan, chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), the key is to make sure you create a good lather with the soap, wash all surfaces of the hands and then thoroughly rinse.  “I tell kids to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice b…

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Content Partner: Westchester Medical Center