Running on Empty

A fever and cough strike a busy, young mom. But this is no routine case of influenza.

By Tony Dajer
Apr 30, 2015 12:00 AMMay 20, 2025 2:53 PM
running-on-empty
Woman: Straga/Shutterstock. Blood cells: tigger11th/Shutterstock

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“You better see this one,” my ER nurse, Elsa, urged. “Too pale, too pale.”

I had already sent in Jeff, my medical student, for what seemed like a routine case: a 30-something woman complaining of cough, low-grade fever and fatigue for a week. I reread the chart: pulse 114 (a tad high), fever 100.4, good blood pressure and oxygen saturation near normal at 96 percent. This sure looked like the flu.

Hustling over, I found Jeff diligently noting his findings in a small notebook. The patient — a thin, blond woman wearing a slightly startled expression — did her best to answer him.

“Hello,” I announced. “I’m Dr. Dajer, the boss.”

“Hello, boss. I’m Gail,” she riposted.

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