? for guys with Russian wives and children

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Re: ? for guys with Russian wives and ch..., posted by Rags on Mar 16, 2002

I've been to so many countries where you cannot drink the tap water unless you boil it.  Even then it would taste bad.  I have tried to drink form the tap a couple of times in Russia nad Latvia in a pinch, and it was tough to stomach.  I can understand why she would think the way she does.  In the US the water tastes good almost everywhere.  In Texas or out west, I have to admit the water's drinkable, but pretty bad.  

People don't realize initially how a dry climate affects them.  They're thirsty all the time and their skin is dry and itchy.  If you go outside several hours hiking or playing sports you can become severely dehydrated and it takes a couple of days to recover.  

Little kids are walking germ cultures aren't they?; and they always want to put their hand in their mouth even if it was just on the floor?

[DE]

... in response to ? for guys with Russian wives and childr..., posted by JohnG on Mar 16, 2002

Hi John,

No kids or wife but just from a medical perspective, Patrick's post and BubbaGump's post have a lot of merit.  Its doubtful that the germs are any different due the international traveling.  Colds, flu and infections are easily spread all around the planet.  In addition to Patrick's and BubbaGump's comments, I might offer that my experience is that in the FSU they are more fanatical about handwashing, especially before eating.  With children having contact at school with other children whose handwashing habits probably being non-existant, its difficult to prevent exposure to bacteria and viruses.  And of course mom is always caring for the child.  Add the stress of a new life, possibly exposure to pollens or mold spores that they were not previously exposed to and you have the makings of frequent colds and cold like symptoms.  Just a thought.

[Dude]

... in response to Re: ? for guys with Russian wives and ch..., posted by DE on Mar 16, 2002

Hi,

 Since a cold/virus is usually and in most cases only accepted once by the human body it makes sense that there are strains here or there that the recipient has not had to deal with in there immune system.
 It is very likely that the 9 year old has not had the strains that are now apparent and also this is normal depending on the cases the patient has had in previous times. In other words..YES there are more sttrains to anew environment and in due time the 9 year old will have the immunity. This is why we have flu shots..etc.. Hand washing is good but lung washing is a bit of a problem.
 Once you have beaten a strain you will no longer have a problem with it again.

DUDE

[DE]

... in response to Re: Re: ? for guys with Russian wives an..., posted by Dude on Mar 16, 2002

And to complicate it......strains can be genetically mutated through their own replication and through exposure to outside influences causing you to actually be re-infected later and your body antigens not recognizing it as the previous strain.  In addition, its not unlikely that in a course of a winter to come into contract with several different strains circulating around, particulary in a school enviornment.  This is one reason why flu shots are not 100% effective against catching the flu.  And although good handwashing can reduce the chance of exposure, anything airborne is impossible to avoid.

[Stan B]

... in response to ? for guys with Russian wives and childr..., posted by JohnG on Mar 16, 2002

Our daughter will be 5 in 6 weeks and has been going to pre-school for 2 months now and has been suprisingly healthy. In the almost 6 months they've been here she has only come down w/ 1 small cold. So I would think each childs situation will be different.

[DJD]

... in response to ? for guys with Russian wives and childr..., posted by JohnG on Mar 16, 2002

I am in a similar situation with my 9 year old son.  He has been here about a year and a half now, and visits to the doctor are a monthly routine.  Mostly throat infections in his case.  We are taking him to an ENT specialist shortly.  My wife seems to be having better luck.  Hard to say why this is happening.  It's reasonable to think that there are strains of germs here they haven't been exposed to earlier in their lives.

Dan

[BubbaGump]

... in response to ? for guys with Russian wives and childr..., posted by JohnG on Mar 16, 2002

Hey, in Florida you have all kinds of germs running around there with so many people travelling from other places.  But, your kid might just be having alergy problems.  I have a problem with molds which pick up before thunderstorms and Florida has those almost every day in the summer.  Young kids get sick more often anyway.  

When I lived in a cold climate I seemed to get sick less.  Plants are growing less (fewer alergies) and germs may not live very long.

[Patrick]

... in response to ? for guys with Russian wives and childr..., posted by JohnG on Mar 16, 2002

It's got to be tough for a child (or anyone for that matter) to adjust to life in a new country where they don't speak the language and are away from everything they know.

[micha1]

... in response to Maybe it's stress, posted by Patrick on Mar 16, 2002

Patrick,  you are right,  it is only my guess.
Outside, being in a new country and surronding.  How did the mother get the child ready psychologically for
all this?    But children have a way all their own to adapt to anything that comes along.
Somewhere along the line, all will be well, very well.