Good for you

The Chicago Tribune is reporting possible exposure to tuberculosis of infants and children at three area hospitals: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hospital, and Evanston Hospital.  According to the Tribune, the exposure may have occurred through a Northwestern University doctor-in-training who was recently diagnosed with active tuberculosis.

The AP is reporting that hundreds of patients and staff at all three hospitals may have been exposed to the infectious bacteria and that, so far,  two of the three hospitals are confirming efforts to contact affected patients and families.

This comes after the Chi-Town Daily News recently reported a historic drop in newly-diagnosed cases of tuberculosis.

Adult symptoms of tuberculosis include coughing blood, night sweats, fever, and swelling a the neck when the lymph nodes become infected.

However, according to to one child health care website, infants and children may not show clear signs of tuberculosis infection.

Click here for more information on how to get tested and treated for tuberculosis in Chicago.

If you’ve ever tried getting around Chicago by wheel, you’ve probably felt the wrath of the Chicago pothole.  As we enter the season of outdoor excursions and urban biking, potholes are becoming even more of a nuisance than they were in the winter — when I was happy to plant myself on the couch rather than take on Lake Shore in sub-zero temperatures.

So, what’s the city doing about the Chicago’s pothole acne?

WBEZ is reporting that the city plans to increase pothole-filling efforts later this month and there are even hopes that the Illinois Department of Transportation might lend a hand.  Mayor Daley has said that so far, the city has filled more than 300,000 potholes this season at a pace of 3,000 to 5,000 a day, seven days a week.

So what do you think?  Is the city doing enough to combat the pothole plague?  They say they will be increasing efforts later this month, but should they have been on top of it all along?

Also, ever wonder where potholes come from?