Forget about being “naughty” or “nice.” Santa will probably check you twice for nausea and fever.
Unfortunately, many of the men who wear Santa suits every December are powerless to know where the virus is lurking. That's what prompted a doctor, and sometimes Santa Claus, to publish a warning about “Sick Santa Syndrome” in a medical journal in 1986.
Dr. Mark Denbert, an epidemiologist at the Naval Environmental Health Center in Norfolk, Virginia, had a fun side job in the '80s. When he wasn't researching diseases, he entertained children at children's hospitals by dressing up as St. Nick.
As it turns out, by becoming Santa, he learns a little about how diseases are spread, and about his findings he American Medical Association Journal December 1986.
“I'm not aware of any published epidemiological studies on morbidity associated with being Santa Claus,” he said. “However, my background as an infectious disease epidemiologist and several years of experience as a seasonal but well-traveled Santa for children and adults alike led me to describe a new syndrome. .”
He said sick Santa syndrome has a number of symptoms, including low-grade fever, muscle aches, headaches, nasal congestion, mild sinusitis, pain swallowing, cough, increased thirst, decreased appetite, and swollen lymph nodes. It is said that it is a combination of
He said the disease can affect patients of any gender or age, but usually occurs between December and mid-January.
“Risk factors for this syndrome include hoo-hoo-hooing; hugging; listening; reassuring or winking done to the face,” he continued.
“There is little that can be done to prevent this syndrome. For this high-risk population, influenza vaccination is warranted. Vitamins may have value.”
Although a joke, the details of Dr. Denbert's article likely resonated with the mall Santas of the time, and his “illness” garnered attention.
talk to UPI That year, he had a relapse of sick Santa syndrome and had to interrupt an interview to cough.
“I'm pretty sure I got it by playing Santa for 150 kids and a children's hospital on Saturday,” he said.
“Kids will be kids and they'll sneeze in your face and wipe their hands on your beard. Of course I encourage that,” he said. “It's fun to be around the kids, but they're very susceptible to illnesses like colds, measles, and the flu.”
Professional Santas are certainly well aware of the dangers of this job. John Sullivan was previously a professional Santa in Chicago. told ABC News That he would never refuse, even if the child was obviously sick.
“I'm going to go see him. I'm going to talk to him,” Sullivan said. “Frankly, that’s the risk that comes with the job…Santa can’t walk around wearing a surgical mask!”
In fact, he said, parents can sense when a child is sick, even if they don't know it yet.
“When you pick up your baby, you can often feel the lungs congesting,” he says. “I tell parents that their baby has a cold. Honestly, if I were Santa, I would never turn away a child.”
