Diplomate, Board Certification of Emergency Medicine
Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine Ma'ayenei Hayeshua
Hospital
We'll take a break from our series on the four biggest
killers to answer some letters. A correspondent from England
with the initials F.L. asks about the safety of microwave
ovens.
I'd like to preface my comments to her with a short remark
about letters. Articles that I submit to the Yated are
written approximately 2 months before they are actually
published. I attempt to answer all correspondence personally
so that people can have their answers without waiting for the
article to appear in the press. I enjoy hearing from all of
you and leave me a return address so that you can receive a
reply. Keep your letters coming, and consider dropping in and
saying hello if you are ever in the Bnei Brak area, and if I
or any of the physicians here at the hospital can be of
assistance, let us know. We love to do chesed. Also,
those who would like to organize a program or a speaking
engagement should be in touch in care of the Yated.
Microwave is a form of radiation very similar to radio waves
in frequency. Microwaves are able to cook, boil, bake, and do
it all in minutes. Microwaved food is safe, and there is no
residual "radiation" in the food, as these are waves passing
through that cannot be absorbed. Those sold in the USA must
conform to strict ASTM guidelines for microwave leakage.
Other countries may have less rigorous guidelines, but I
still think they are built to be safe. For a few pounds (about
3 or so) one can purchase a microwave radiation detector to
check that the protection devices are working well. I do not
believe there is much to be concerned about from a safety
standpoint.
A question was also raised about threadworms. I believe
what you mean are pinworms and
unfortunately, the news is not good. These small worms
migrate down the intestinal tract and hatch their eggs
outside the anus, which can cause intense itching especially
at night. They sometimes migrate to the front in females.
Local irritation in a small child is usually either due to
incomplete cleansing or pinworm.
Many medications are effective, but two problems exist. First
the eggs are very hardy, they can survive for weeks under the
right conditions. Second, adults often have no symptoms, so
they can pass on the worm without knowing it. Keep
fingernails well clipped, wash often and keep treating the
outbreaks -- is all I can offer. There are at least four
medications that are effective, as well as enemas that may
help.
I am flattered that physicians find my articles interesting,
and recently, Dr. D., an ophthalmologist from South Africa
and now Bnei Brak informed me that a lot of new treatments
have come out to treat macular degeneration which
previously was untreatable. You should speak to your eye
doctor if you have this problem.
Mrs. F. attended my lectures in Bnei Brak and now she is
married and a neighbor of ours. She was informed that the
chicken pox vaccine was recently approved for use in Israel,
and asked my opinion. We have progressed a long way from the
past when we purposely exposed our children to chicken pox as
kids so they would get it and be finished with it for life.
Chicken pox is misery for children and their parents. Chicken
pox can get into the lungs where it is more dangerous, and is
much more dangerous if caught as an adult. It also hides
after an acute infection, and waits years before reappearing
as a painful condition called "shingles." I think there are
enough good reasons to take the vaccine. The vaccine has been
found to be safe. Write me in care of the Yated. (If you read
my articles and live in the USA, Australia, South Africa or
the European continent, I'd especially like to hear from
you.)
A Message from Glaxo, sponsor of this column: Betnovate,
Dermovate, and Eumovate are Glaxo products of varying
strengths to help combat skin diseases such as eczema and
psoriasis. You don't have to suffer. When it comes to chronic
skin conditions, think of Glaxo.
