Dear friends and family,
A brief update. (Will that be a first?)
My project here at Vector Control Research Center in Pondicherry is going very well – we collected all our blood samples from the clinic and from out in the villages, and today we finally ran all 85 of them in the “Autoanalyzer.” A play-it-cool technician from Chennai showed up, and we made a day out of running the test on the samples using that slick machine. From what we can tell, I’ll have plenty to write about when I do that forty-odd-page paper when I get back to the US. The results look like they lend themselves to a rich “discussion” section. Hooray!
I received a question on what my project involves and I realize I haven’t explained. Elephantiasis is the most extreme form of filariasis, which is a chronic condition caused by infection with filarial worms (I encourage you to google “filariasis.”). They’re transmitted by mosquitoes, and those swollen legs you may have seen in pictures are elephantiasis. Most of the cases I’ve seen with my adviser are less severe than that. But some of these people with this condition really suffer, not only because of the chronic swelling (which will never go away even once the worms are killed with drugs). But also because of the periodic fevers and infections that come with the disease.
My project stems from the question, “What causes those acute fevers/infections?” And so we’re looking at the blood of patients to see whether it shows signs that they have had a recent bacterial infection, which would indicate that it’s normal skin bacteria that cause these debilitating acute attacks in some of them. And I must say, asking a simple question like that brings you into a world of further questions and further avenues for research and in my case, it’s brought me to see nearly 60 filariasis patients and hundreds of villagers that I never would have encountered otherwise. What a great way to spend my November/December – I could be in Minnesota right now struggling to preserve body heat!
Things are definitely winding down, though, and I’m excited to return. I’m looking at my stock of daily Malarone pills and there is only a handful left. Soon there will be no need for “malarial chemoprophylaxis!” And yesterday my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Only 13 days until I’m home!
But first, one more week at VCRC putting together my data. Then, a couple of days in Goa, the beachy state on the West coast of India. And finally the long journey back. Movies, bowling, NPR, Starbucks, my five siblings, two nieces and nephews, brother-in-law, grandma, and parents will be there a-waiting!
I can’t not mention this: I’m at a cramped Internet cafe (well, more like an Internet room) and there’s a family of seven crowded around the computer kiosk next to me talking to a relative via camera link-up. Perhaps it’s a proud son studying at the University of Minnesota or someone who lives down the street from my house in Chicago. Who knows? We’ve met many people who have studied in the midwest and even more who have a relative who is there.
Okay, okay, so that wasn’t “brief.” Who asked you?
Anyway, to everyone who is a student or professor, have a great last few days/weeks of the semester. And to everyone else, keep up the good work until the holidays!
Ever your loving,
Isaac H.
pseudoisaac 