Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic was admitted to
Akron General Medical Center at 2:30 this afternoon and is being evaluated by his doctors
this evening. The mayor participated in a dedication ceremony this morning with British
Open golf champion Ben Curtis at Mud Run Golf Course from 10:30 until 11:30 and then drove
himself home to rest. He made the decision to go to the hospital and was driven there by
his wife Mary shortly after 2 o’clock. Mayor Plusquellic had been experiencing fever,
shaking chills, nausea, dehydration and vomiting.Currently, doctors are evaluating the
mayor and treating him with intravenous antibiotics to combat possible infection. His
doctor, David Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at AGMC, said this
afternoon, "Mayor Plusquellic is unable to stay hydrated and keep down any oral
medication, so it is important that he be hospitalized so we can administer antibiotics
intravenously and maintain his fluid levels.‘
His doctor also said his neurological tests are good and everything looks fine in the
area of his heart surgery, performed June 24. They are looking at an insect bite the mayor
received three weeks ago to see if the symptoms he is now experiencing could be related to
that. The mayor had flu-like symptoms for more than a week after being bitten.
Mayor Plusquellic’s physicians are also doing an infection workup to try to
determine if the ailment is bacterial or viral in nature. His condition is listed as fair
by Akron General Medical Center. This means his vital signs are stable, and within normal
limits. The mayor is conscious but is uncomfortable from his symptoms. That will be
upgraded to good, as the mayor begins to feel more comfortable.
More information will be available on the mayor Thursday, August 21, 2003.
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