HEALTH NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 15

HEALTH NOTES

influenza:

ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC

SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS

(Contributed by the Department of

Health.)

In view of the outbreak of influenza in Europe, and the possibility of the. disease becoming epidemic in New Zealand, it is considered desirable to state briefly for the guidance of the public the measures which the individual should adopt for the protection of himself and those with whom he comes in contact. The most recent advices from Europe are to the effect that the disease is of a definitely mild nature, and is not to be compared in severity, to the pandemic of 1918, the complications and sequaele being, confined mainly to children and elderly people. The notifications received by the Department of Health show that influenza of a severo type is not prevalent in New Zealand. There is, however, a considerable amount of a mild type in certain districts in the Dominion. It is thought desirable to recapitulate briefly the precautionary measures which ar.e within the powers of the public to adopt.

Well-ventilated airy rooms promote well-being, and to that extent, at any rate, are inimical to infection; draughts are duo to unskilled ventilation and are harmful; all chilling of the bodysurface should be prevented. ■ Good nourishing food is desirable. A' recent memorandum of the Royal College of Physicians states that "alcoholic excess invites disaster; withia the limits of moderation each person ■will be wise to maintain • unaltered ■whatever habit experience has proved to be most agreeable to his ■ own health."-

A simple throat-gargle for ordinary use is made by adding 20 drops of liquor sodae chlorinatae to a tumblor of warm water. A solution of common table-salt, one teaspoonful to a pint of warm water, to which is added enough permanganate of potash to give the liquid a pink colour (one part of permanganate in 5000), is suitable either as a gargle or for washing the nasal passages. For the latter, a little of the liquid may be poured into the hollow palm of the hand or into a small shallow receptacle like, the lid of a small tin, and snuffed or drawn,up the nostrils. Throat-gargling and nosewashing night and morning, or more frequently, are recommended as preventative measures, though their importance should not be overrated. They, may be employed with special.advantage on returning home after exposure to infection in a crowd or close contact with an infected person.

On present knowledge the public are not advised to make a general use of face-masks during a period of influenza prevalence. Face-masks, however, should be used as much as possible by those attending on the sick. A mask to coyer the nose, mouth, and chin may be improvised out of three layers.of buttermuslin, Sin by sin, provided at-the corners with tapes for fastening at the back of the head; or about half a yard of gauze may be used for the same purpose, folded as a triangular bandage. A sufficient number of face-masks must be available so that they can be frequently changed and washed. It is desirable rt the same time. to. protect the eyes by wearing goggles or glasses.

Since we are uncertain of the primary cause of influenza, no form of inoculation can be guaranteed to. protect against the disease itself. But the chief dangers of infiuenra lie in its complications, and it is probable that something can be d-one to mitigate the severity of the infection and to diminish its mortality by raising the resistance of the body against the chief secondary infecting agents. A rtandard vaccine has b n used for this purpose in the Army, and in some districts B-.^olies of this vac mo are issued by the ;:;?dical officers of health,for use in institutions, or to medical practitioners who apply for it. The vaccine does not infallibly prevent complications, but the results of its use have been encouraging. There need be no hesitation in accepting inoculation when it is administered under competent medical advice. *

No drug has yet been proved to have any specific influence p.: a preventive of influenza.

influenza prevalence those who are ablo to do so will diminish their chance of contracting the disease by keeping away from all places of public resort and all crowded conveyances. Other persons are, in most cases at least, able to avoid some occasions of forming part of a crowd or assembly, without prejudice to their necessary occupations, and should do so.

PRECAUTIONS WHEN ATTACKED.

-Staying at work after the' first symptoms appear is bad for the patient and may be dangerous to others. Workers obviously ill should at once be sent or taken home. Where influenza is prevalent no'person should in any way b« penalised for staying away from work, bona fide, for even a slight-attack of infldenza or any form of feverish cold. On the contrary, he should bo expected and required so to do. • ■

At the first feeling of illness or rise of temperature the patient should go to bed, keep warm, and seek medical treatment.

The early stages of an attack arc th« most infective, but infection, may persist throughout the illness, and segregation should bo maintained at least till the temperature is normal. If the patient cannot occupy a separate room, the head of his bed should, if possible, be screened off from the rest of the apartment. v , .

Relapses and complications arc much' less likely to occur if the patient goes to bed at once and remains there till all fever has gone for two or three days; much harm may bo done by getting about too early. Chill and over-exertion during convalescence are fruitful of evil consequences.

Tho virus of influenza is very easily destroyed, and extensive measures of disinfection arc not called for. Expectoration should be received when possible in a glazed receptacle in. which is a solution of chloride of limo or other disinfectant. Discarded handkerchiefs should bo immediately placed in disinfectant or, if of paper, bv.rnt. The liability of the immediate attendants to infection may be materially diminished by avoiding inhalation of the patient's breath, and particularly -when he is coughing, sneezin<r, or talking. A' handkerchief or other screen should bo hold, before ,tho mouth, and the head turned aside during coughing or sneezing. The risk of conveyance of infection by the fingers must bo constantly; remembered, and the hands should be washed at once after contact with 1 the patient or with mucus from the nose or throat.

Each case must be treated, as occasion demands, under the direction of the medical attendant. No drug has as yet been proved to liavo any Vpecifie c..ratiye effect ■on influenza, though some may be useful in. guiding its course and mitigating its symptoms. The patient's recovery should be fuUy established before he-jretr-as to work.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were 21,000 clergy. To-day there are only 16.500 clergy in the wodf of tlw Church 'of England. >-- S