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Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

I'm hoping that Americans might be able to shed light on an illness that my younger sister, (who has two young children), may have contracted while in California, with her husband, who was on business there for a few months.

While in California (near Stanford University area) she regularly went swimming (in a pool as opposed to the sea I think).

My sister has been been back home on the small island where she lives in western Europe for two weeks now and has become very thin, suffers from splitting headaches, couldn't get out of bed while in her home and has recently been hospitalised.

The doctors don't know what is wrong with her, they think she may have contracted a virus, or have a tear in the membrane of her brain.

The doctors are planning to dye her brain and spine, but no test results are available yet.

Does anyone have any useful information on what could be wrong with her?

Yu · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 1219 Location: Shanghai

Only thing I can think of you get from swimming is swimmer's ear... But i dont think that is what you are looking for.

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

Hi Susie

I can't imagine why the doctors or so stumped by this one. It's a swimming pool and lots of "stuff" can start growing in the water if it is not cleaned properly.

I would suggest looking for a better website for asking this question.
There has got to be something better than Dave's for this one.

We just flame one another here.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Susie,

Any fever? Also, has she had a CBC? I'd be curious about the white cell (lukocyte) count especially.

acwilliams · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

Leptospirosis??? But I'm sure that would have occurred to the doctors already. It sounds like your sister is in good hands. Have faith! And best wishes to your sister, and to you at this difficult time.

Don McChesney · Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 656

Don't just think 'swiming pool', what else did she do, where did she go, what animals did she handle, including domestic pets.
Maybe there was a pre-existing condition exacerbated by the flight or something.
Have they done an MRI to look for things like toxoplasmosis etc etc, maybe this procedure what they mean by dye the brain, ie do a contrast MRI.
With enough expensive tests most problems are identifiable , treatment follows.
Good luck to her, I hope she enjoyed California. Surprised