THE PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

Bruce Herald, Volume L, Issue 57, 27 July 1914, Page 3

THE PEOPLE'S HEALTH.

WHOOPING COUGH. Many mothers look upon whooping cough with little seriousness, and pay scant attention l to their children when ■•attacked, For tin's reason it has been decided to point out the {{rave complications that will follow the careless treatment of this affection. Firstly, it is an infectious disease, characterised by catarrh of the air passages, and. by a series of convn'sive coughs, wliieii end in a long-drawn inspiration or whoops and it is from this latter characteristic that it receives the well-known name. lb is directly contagious, from peuson to person, and also , indirectly per medium of dwelling-rooms, ~ctr>>lrooms, etc. It occurs in epidemics, and is usually associated with those pi other infectious diseases. It is associated' on this occasion with mild l epidemics of dyphtheria and scaryet fever. After infection there is a period of incubation, from seven to 10 days, before symptoms put in an appearance. Then the child 1 suffers as from an ordinary cold. This is called the catarrhal stage, and after lasting for a week or 10 days the cough becomes worse and more convulsive in character, and the characteristic "whoop" appears, marking the onset.of the paroxysmal stage. Coughing fits begin with a series of . from 10 to_ 15 forcible short coughs of increasing intensity, between which no inspiratory effort is made. The child's face bocomccs swollen .and blue, the veins standing out prominently, the eyeballs protrude and become _i nil aimed ; in fact,'suffocation seems imminent, when, with a dee:> crowing or whooping inspiration, air rushes 'into the lungs and the color returns. The child knows a, few moments previously that ta-ck is coming on, and uses every effort to check it, but, failing'to do so, run. 1 ? terrified to the nurso or mother to bo supported, or clutches anything near by. In severe types few diseases are more painful to witness. Among circumstances which precipitate an attack are emotions such as crying, and , any irritation about, the j throat; even'the act of swallowing a close, dusty atmosphere, also predisposes to coughing fits. Persistent, vomiting frequently follows these attacks. There may be only four or five attacks daily, or in the severe and fatal cases they may exceed 100. During the paroxysms certain complications arise—namely, bleeding from the nose, mouth, eyes, and even from the stomach, collapse or rupture of the lung, and m small infants severe convulsions are by no means- rare. Fatal cases of suffocation have been recorded, when the spasm of the throat has been excessive. However, bv far the. most serious complications follow after the acute part of the illness lias passed. The persistent strain and vomiting accompanying the illness produce marked anaemia .and wasting, and leave the lungs in a conditionfavorable for the development of secondary infections, and in thisway we frequently find that tuberculosis, pneumonia, and severe capillary bronchitis supervene, and account for most of the fatal cases. Serious damage to the heart valves often occurs, and in adults when attacked * most distressing sequel intervenes—viz., asthma, which recaus at intervals for years alter. The public scarcely appreciates the gravity of this diseasa, and few realise the fact that whooping cough', with its complications, ranks first .among tho acute infections as a cause of d'eatn in children under five years of .age. It far exceeds.diohtheria and scarlet fever m gross mortality. It is high time the disease was placed on the list of reportable infections. There is more reprehensible neglect in connection with this than anv other disease. Sufferers should be strictlv isolated from other children and on no account allowed to attend school or be exposed in public in any wav. If the are severe thenaticnt should rest in. bed and have an abundant supply of fresh air dav and night. The drugs most successful in its treatment ore paregoric and quinine, accompanied -by skhiul swabbing with some antiseptic such as the carbolic acid spray. Drug treatment should always he under the direction of a reliable practitioner. Alter the s-veritv of the attack has subsided and the convalescence begun, the child should he watched with the greatest care, as it is just at this time that fatal complications, such as broncho-pneu-monia and tuberculosis, are apt to oocnr. The patient should have a change of air, with good food and_ tonics, ot which the best is cod-liver oil.