JURE OF INFANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 31, 5 August 1933, Page 22

JURE OF INFANTS

• -..■•.■.•■ :;(By; "Hygeia.") > ' TuVttihtA under the auspices of the Eoyal New , ZSiland Society for the Health of Women . and Children (Plunket. Society). ' "It* Is wiser to put up a fence at the top of rl precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the" bottom." ■ ' : COLDS. ' Summer used to be the worst season for babies. .But mothers have now learnt so much about the proper feeding' and care of infants, and are so thoroughly^ impressed with_ the need for special precautions iv tho hot weather, that serious'diarrhoea'is very rare—indeed the vast majority of ouf babies go through the summer quite without upset. "Winter now presents the .greater danger. Investigation into the causes of: death amongst babies under Plunket supervision shows bronchitis and pneumonia, causing winter deaths, to be .the most serious factor. . . ■ The trouble, is that we. .accept the common cold as inevitable, and do not realise that it is the-usual precursor of bronchitis and pneumonia and such' lowered •'resistance that . the baby readily falls, a victim "to even n mild infection-, <■■'-■, '.If baby has been rendered really hardy and strong by good feeding,and exercise and: ■ sensible clothing, dtc, there is comparatively, little to fear ' from infections in winter or any other time. Just now, with colds, coughs, and influenza the order of 'the day, one notices ■ specially the very striking difference in resistance between the hardy baby and the coddled child. .. . . PREVENTION. Even now it is not .too-late to start preventive measures. ■ The. great thing is to.increase the child's resistance. Keep the house, well ventilated and have the children out of doors as. much as the weather - permits. Make use of every .odd hal£-hour of sunshine. Do not .let. the baby remain in the kitchen. Dress.the children .-according to the temperature-of1 the day, nor.the season,. Constant overclothing is very weakening and lowers the resistance. '.:See that the ■children have long, unbroken sleep aj:. night- and a daytime sleep.. ~ : ■ .;... ' ■ . , ■ • Give a.cool sponge down and a brisk, vigorous,-.rub after, the bath every, morning. ■... ..... .-.-.■■• .When lifting from a warm bed after sleep, protest.the children from sudden chilling' by. wrapping in a shawl', or blanket. .... - ■ ■ . . Colds, are infectious. Keep children away .from, anyone who has a-cold or other ■; respiratory trouble. Do " not allow indiscriminate, kissing and fondling. '.;.•:. '.'.■•■ ;• .-',.; TREATMENT.. ~ If baby ■catches a .cold, especially if he.'is 'feverish,^remember the following simp1 le suggestions:— "■•■■' The child's main need is for fluidwarm boiled water or. diluted fruit juice. He needs less food and more water Ithan usual; consequently do not press liim to take all his ordinary foodif he is .disinclined for it. If there is any 'digestive'upset dilute the baby's "milk mixture with a few ounces of extra water; ( Drinks of water or fruit juice should- be given frequently between meal times. ■ The-giving of suffi- • eient fluid-is an'important-point, and one'which is often neglected, because the. child;is very-apt to refuse -drinks, probably because the throat is- sore. If this .is the case, every possible means 1 of inducing the. child to drink must be resorted: to. If coaxing and wiles fail,':s.trong .measures may be necessary for.the child's, own good. Try the child with his drink through a. straw. This method, seldom fails to appeal. Never mind if- the small patient does a partial starve for a few days so long ' as "you get .him to take fluids. He will probablyl be. the better without solid food, but the body is much hampered in its fight against the hostile germs if it ia not supplied with plenty of water. ■ Keep the bowels regularly and well opened. Keep the nostrils clear. Raise the .-head and shoulders a little higher thsm. usual in the'cot if breathing Beims.easier in this way. • Give him' a good ,warm bath to open the- pores'''of the skin: Cool down the bath with cold wafer before taking him out to.'close the pores, and keep him warm in bed. A warm bath should be given daily during the cold, but the warm'wafer.should be cooled down at the conclusion of the bath. Then rub the chest and.trunk over 'with warm olive oil. 'The child should,' of course, be.kept warm, and .out of draughts. The idea of bathing the. baby during a cold is ' perhaps a little unconventional, for'; ; oiie .commonly finds that babies or small children have not been bathed for days during the course of a severe cold. One-has only to think how important a part the skin in ridding tKe body of impurities to realise that it is doubly necessary -to keep the skin active- and cleansed during a time when poisons of a cold are circulating .in . the body. "While the temperature is actually raised, above normal, jt.may be as well.to sponge the child all o,ver in bed. or on the lap in '. front of the fire instead of actually bathing, but unless this procedure can be carried, out quickly and deftly then there-is really more ' ■. risk of • exposure and chilling than there is from a quick full bath given, in a cosy, warm corner ' of the room. In any case, the child ■should be tucked up in a previously warmed bed directly after the bath or sponge. .... .CONVALESCENCE. : During convalescence be specially careful to guard-. the crawling and toddling baby from chilling. It is well ■to keep the crawling baby off the floor for a few days.- ---■ xTemember that fresh air and sun-shine-are the best germ-killers known. Don't keep- the -children with, colds cooped up in stuffy rooms. Let them "be outside so: long-as they. are kept warm and protected from cold winds. "When they.-must be indoors,; see that the "room is well ventilated. •THE DANGER OF COMPLICATION. Do not let a cold go on indefinitely •without getting medical advice. Especially- if there is', a chesty .cough or any difficulty jn breathing, if the child .remains- feverish or drowsy, or if there are any signs of ear .trouble,. -seiicT'f or •a. doctor.without delay. Don't forget that a cold-, ."may be compared to a camp fire :in > dry weather —slight •changes:: may produce disastrous results.'.' Many", serious illnesses, many .perhaps .fatal ;i .cases of pneumonia or .bronchitis,, developing out of "common" colds, ..could be. prevented if 1 taken in. time, the child being placed , .'.under-proper :medical cai-e in the early stages .of-.the trouble. . .