MEASLES EPIDEMIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 171, 21 July 1924, Page 8

MEASLES EPIDEMIC.

DANGER OF COMPLICATIONS. A WARNING TO PARENTS. METHOD OF TREATMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. Tlic disease of meusles is at present exceedingly prevalent in the community and the Department of Health issues a Warning circular to parents and others. Parents arc asked to note that though this disease is often mild and transient it may be exceedingly dangerous owing to complications developing, and it causes more deaths among children than diphtheria and scarlet fever. The disease tends to lie especially dangerous in children under six years of age. In oldor children measles is not so deadly of itself but it lowers the resistance of the patient and opens the gate for the introduction of germs of other diseases. Jt is, therefore, necessary that care should be taken even when the illness is apparently slight in character. During an epidemic of measles parents should expect that the child may be sickening when it seems to be suffering from a bad cold. The symptoms develop commonly about eleven days after exposure to infection. The characteristic onset is as follows:—There is running at the eves and nose, slight hoarseness with increasing feverishness, and then about the fourth day of the disease rash appears, remaining" at its height for n day or two. The disease normally abates gradually, and at the end of a fortnight— or it may be considerably sooner —the child is practically well. Peeling is represented by a powdery condition of the skin, hardly, however, noticeable, but the course may be less favourable, the disease assuming a virulent form. Almost from the onset it may give rise to complications, especially bronchitis and broncho-pneumonia, also to disease of the middle ear, leading to ear discharge and associated with inflammatory conditions of the eyelids, and there wav be a tendency to serious weakness of the eyes which, unless due care is taken, may become permanent. The stops to be taken are as fol- ] owa: —put the child to bed at once, in a separate room if possible, but if not, at least in a separate bed. Avoid glaring light cither by day or night, keep the room comfortably warm and well ventilated, see that the. diet is light in character and that the bowels are kept well open. It is advisable to call in a doctor at once, as neglect of treatment may result in serious consequences. Keep the child in bed for at least four days after the rash has subsided and the temperature is normal. Do not let him strain his eyes in poring over finely-printed books. Be careful as to exposure to cold until health is completely re-established. Do not forget to notify the head teacher of the school attended by the child at once of the appearance of a case in the Lome. , .1, The regulations governing school attendance are as follows:—The period of exclusion from school of a child suffering from this disease is at least two weeks from the date of the appearance of rash and until convalescence is completely established. The period of exclusion from school of children exposed to infection is as follows: —(l) If the child has had the disease, not to be excluded unless the medical officer of health directs. (2) If the child has not had the disease, until 1G days from the occurrence of tha last case. (3) If the disease is not epidemic when the first case occurs in school, all children from the infected home to be excluded from school until 16 days from the occurrence of the last case. Head teachers of schools are being asked to enforce strictly these regulations as a preventive measure. Parents are advised to keep their children from crowded places.