MILD INFLUENZA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 210, 5 September 1931, Page 12

MILD INFLUENZA.

HEAI/TH OFFICER'S ADVICE.

GASTRIC CASES PREDOMINATE,

"Thero is no necessity for alarm," said Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health, when he was questioned this morning concerning an epidemic of influenza colds in tho city and suburbs. "Undoubtedly there has been a fair number of cases of a mild type," he said, "and eomo of these may be rendered more serious by patients failing to take precautions against talcing a chill, thus rendering thomselvcs liable to pneumonia. However, during tho last three months there had been only one case reported which may bo termed pneumonic influenza."

Dr. Hughes said that cases of primary pneumonia were not notifiable, but if pneumonia followed on influenza in the form of pneumonic influenza it was notifiable. Nearly all the cases that had occurred were those of gastric influenza. It commenced with foverishnees and was accompanied by nausea, followed sometimes by vomiting. Thero might be, in addition, abdominal pains of diarrhoea. The ordinary fflu symptoms were feverishness and pains in the limbs. Whatever typo of influenza a patient contracted, said Dr. Hughes, he should go to bed and not get up until two or three days after hie temperature became normal. The prolonged wet and cold weather was responsible for many of the colds prevailing. Nobody should cough, snooze or talk into the face of any person. Those who came in contact with patients should uso a mild garglo, aa, for instance, a spoonful of common, salt diluted in a pint of. warm water with sufficient of permanganate of potaeh added to mak'o the liquid pink! In place of this he recommended formalin tablots. All patients should occupy separate roomfi, and their food utensils should be boiled before being used again.