DALLAS –  An eerie algae bloom that has painted chunks of Texas’ coast a reddish brown — and even a yellow-green in some places — has forced state health officials to ban oyster harvesting before the season officially begins.

The Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday that it was banning commercial and recreational harvesting of oysters, clams and mussels because the “red tide” algae bloom contains a toxin that can lead to shellfish poisoning in humans.

The algae boom, which is typically present along Texas’ coast beginning in September, is worse this year because of a historic drought and unprecedented heat. Already the algae, which thrive in warm, salty water, killed 3 million fish. It is the largest algae bloom in more than a decade along the Texas Gulf Coast, said Meredith Byrd, a Texas Parks and Wildlife marine biologist.

“We need a combination of rain and cold temperatures to start killing off the red tide,” Byrd said.

Texas’ oysters have already been hard hit by the drought, with 65 percent fewer market-size oysters than were seen at this time last year, according to the parks and wildlife department. the lack of rain has depleted the amount of freshwater in the estuaries, the conditions oysters most like to spawn in.

The low numbers will harm Texas’ $217 million-a-year commercial oyster industry. Texas and Louisiana make up 70 percent of the oysters found in the Gulf and the eastern seaboard. Louisiana has had almost no oyster harvesting this year because too much freshwater from Mississippi River flooding killed its harvest.

Christine Mann, a spokeswoman for the health department, the agency charged with protecting the integrity of Texas seafood, said the state is required by federal law to close down harvesting when red tide reaches at least 5 cells per milliliter.

“Red tide isn’t even visible at that point,” Mann said, explaining that a visible bloom is around 1,000 cells per milliliter. “So the threshold is very, very low.”

Texas’ oyster harvesting season normally runs from Nov. 1 through April 30. It is not yet known how long the ban will be in place.

Even when the waters clear, it may take quite a while for the oysters to detoxify, so the length of the closures will depend on how concentrated the red tide bloom was and for how long, Mann said.

The health agency will monitor the situation by taking water samples and testing the tissue of oysters.

A cold front expected to drop night temperatures along the Texas coast into the 50s is forecast for Thursday, but Byrd said it won’t be enough to “hammer away at the red tide” because the daytime highs will still be in the 70s and there’s no rain in the forecast.

To have an impact, water temperature needs to get below 60 degrees, Byrd said, and rain is necessary to help dilute the water so it’s not salty.

“I’m hopeful that over the next few weeks it (the algae) will start dying off, but I just can’t make that prediction,” Byrd said.

In the worst case in recent years, the hardest-hit areas of the bloom have seen it gone by Thanksgiving — but everything depends on the weather. the last red tide for Texas, from October 2009 through mid-February 2010, killed about 5.5 million fish, Byrd said.

“Unfortunately, it has really large impacts on the tourism industry,” Byrd said. “As you can imagine, people can be reluctant to go to beaches if they’re being hit by red tide.”

Families with children, particularly those with asthma or other lung disorders, should steer clear of the waters since the red tide toxin can become airborne and pose potential health problems. for healthy people it’s more of a nuisance that can cause coughing and sinus irritation — symptoms that go away as soon as an individual leaves the beach, authorities said.

tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/environconcerns/hab/redtide/status.phtml

It’s cold outside and many people will be spending time clearing snow from driveways and sidewalks. while people may not notice the cold it can be very dangerous. use common sense and follow these guidelines to stay safe.PreventionThe key to avoiding cold weather injuries is to dress appropriately. This includes layering clothing with a first layer that pulls moisture away from the skin, an outer layer that keeps the elements out and a middle layer that insulates. Hats are a must because the head is where 30 percent of the body’s heat loss takes place. Gloves and face protection also are necessary in extremely cold weather.What is frostbite?Frostbite is caused by exposure to dry, cold temperatures below freezing. it can result in permanent damage and tissue loss. the most susceptible body parts are fingers, toes, cheeks, ear lobes and the tip of the nose because they are located at the most distant points of the circulatory system. a precursor to frostbite is frostnip, in which the skin is numb, white and firm to the touch.What are the risk factors for frostbite?Inadequate or poorly fitted clothing, exposure to wind, dampness, contact with cold objects, dehydration, shock and trauma, hardening of the arteries, smoking, a history of frostbite, alcohol and other substance abuse, and fatigue.What are the symptoms of frostbite?Early symptoms of frostbite include tingling, numbness and pain in the affected area. the skin turns white or gray, and is cold and hard to the touch. there is no feeling in the affected area. the skin may blacken and form a tough layer that eventually disappears, revealing new skin that will always be more susceptible to frostbite. Deep frostbite can involve underlying tissue, muscle, tendon and bone.how do I treat frostbite?Seek medical attention immediately. if transportation is delayed, rewarm the affected area in warm bath water. if a thermometer is not available, the water should feel comfortably warm to unaffected parts. Give the person warm, non-alcoholic fluids. Rewarming at the location should be avoided if medical care is available within 2 hours.During rewarming, the affected area will become extremely painful, red and blotchy, indicating return of adequate circulation. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. when color returns, wrap the part in sterile gauze or a clean cloth, separating the fingers and toes. Elevate the affected part after rewarming to decrease swelling and pain.What is hypothermia?Hypothermia occurs when the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degree Fahrenheit. This happens through exposure to cool and/or damp conditions. Cardiac arrhythmia also is possible when the core body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. the elderly, immobile and psychiatric patients are most at risk. Often times, hypothermia affects elderly people who live in poorly heated homes.What are the symptoms of hypothermia?These include slurred speech, decreased coordination, uncontrollable shivering, cold and pale skin, blue lips and nails, stiffening of neck and limbs, memory lapses, stumbling, abnormally slow breathing and a slow, irregular heart beat. the condition becomes grave when the shivering stops, muscles stiffen and the skin turns bluish.how do I treat hypothermia?Seek medical attention immediately. In mild hypothermia, give the person warm, non-alcoholic fluids and cover his or her head. when hypothermia is more severe, treatment varies based on age. a young person can be warmed in a hot bath (115 degrees Fahrenheit). However, this can be fatal for elderly people. Warming should be gradual with the elderly, at about one degree per hour. Make sure clothing is dry and wrap the person in blankets. Hypothermia patients generally have a good prognosis unless they go into cardiac arrest or complications arise from an associated illness.Courtesy Henry Ford Health System

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – in addition to a flu outbreak, some parts of Middle Tennessee are dealing with a stomach virus.

Dani Williamson, a nurse practitioner with Cool Springs Family Medicine, told Nashville's News 2 she's seen a number of cases in the past week.

“Gastroenteritis, [the] plain old stomach virus, it can last anywhere from 24 hours to several days,” Williamson said.

She said some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, not being able to go to the bathroom, dry skin and dry mouth.

“There's not a whole lot you can do if it's just a virus,” she said.  “It has to run its course and it goes through the family.  when I was on all last week, I had phone calls that every single person in the family had it. it started with one and went all the way through.”

The weather may be partly to blame.

Cold temperatures, snowy conditions and school closings are all ingredients for an outbreak of illnesses.

“[The] winter is a good time for viruses to spread,” said Dr. William Schaffner, Chairman of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University. ”The humidity is down and that permits virus spread, and people are spending a lot of time indoors, so they're close to each other.”

Schaffner said frequent hand-washing and avoiding people who are already sick are good ways to keep the germs away, but those who are already sick should stay home to avoid spreading them to other people.

The seasonal flu, according to the latest flu activity map from the CDC, is widespread in Tennessee and several other eastern states.Doctors have said getting a flu shot is the best way to protect against the seasonal flu virus. The Metro Health Department is offering the shots for $20 each at all three of its centers. Learn more about the flu and other viruses at CDC.gov.

Because I Said So Parenting Advice January 21, 2011

A wrap-up of winter health-care tips for families:

Despite what Grandma might say in this rough winter, cold temperatures are not the cause of colds or flu. The culprit is the viruses that cause colds and flu, which tend to be more common during the winter, when kids are in school and in close contact with each other, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

To boost your child’s immune system, add a rainbow of colors to your family’s diet. top choices are deep-color fruits and vegetables, such as blue blueberries, red tomatoes and orange sweet potatoes, according to the William Sears family of pediatricians. see Askdrsears.com.

Flu cases in the United States are typically highest in January and February. a sneeze or cough, not cold air, can transfer a virus. Frequent handwashing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow — not into her hands — helps reduce the spread of germs and cut down on sickness.

Also, for safety in cold weather, infants and children need to be dressed in layers. but what’s overdoing it when bundling up? The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same weather, pediatricians suggest.

What if no matter the precautions you take, your little one catches a cold? Count on at least one or two this season. but the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t support the use of over-the-counter oral cough and cold medications for young children. Studies have shown that for children under age 6, the cold medications don’t work and may have side effects.

As an alternative to cold medications, applying a topical vapor rub containing menthol, camphor and eucalyptus oils is effective for treating children with nighttime cough and congestion and improves sleep for children with cold symptoms, Penn State College of Medicine researchers have found.

Remember: Antibiotics do no good as a cold-fighter. but if your child has a fever and is uncomfortable, provide single-ingredient acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Watch the dosage and time interval. Part of the problem with cold medications has been that parents give the wrong dosage or more than one medicine with overlapping ingredients, the FDA has found.

It’s not just coughing that keep kids and caregivers awake at night. as many as 75 percent of American children consume caffeine daily, which leads to sleep problems and concerns such as obesity from guzzling sodas, suggests research published recently in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Children between ages 8 and 12 drink the equivalent of about three cans of caffeinated soda, the researchers found. Children as young as age 5 are consuming the equivalent of a can of caffeinated soda daily, but should not have any. as kids consume more caffeine, sleep disruptions increase.

Stress may be keeping your child awake as well. Parents are underestimating how much stress their children experience and the impact their own stress has on their children, a survey by the American Psychological Association suggests. Children as young as 8 are reporting that they have physical and emotional health consequences often associated with stress. Children who are overweight are more likely to report they worry a lot compared to children of normal weight.

Betsy Flagler, a journalist based in Davidson, N.C., is a mother and teaches preschool. E-mail or call Parent to Parent at 704-236-9510.

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