WHOOPING COUGH

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 16

WHOOPING COUGH

DISEASE OF CHILDHOOD

(Contributed by the Department of

Health.)

Whooping cough is one of the most infectious of the common, diseases of childhood. It is characterised by an inflammation of the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes associated with a peculiar spasmodic cough ending in a long, drawn-out inspiration, accompanied by a sound known as the "whoop," from which the disease gets its name. The organisms causing the disease are disseminated in the spray and droplets of sputum emitted during coughing and sneezing, so that those in proximity to the sufferer run risk of infection. Infection may be 'carried also through the medium of a third person or of a domestic animal, or by the use of infected books, teacups, eating utensils, clothing, etc. In general it takes from seven to fourteen days to develop; The disease is infectious from the first catarrhal' stage for an indefinite period while the cough is present. Whooping cough starts with a slight cold, running at the nose, fever, and a dry short cough. The eyes arc bloodshot—in a few days there are paroxysms of coughing, after which the breath is drawn in with a sharp scraping sound—the characteristic "whoop." In some cases the whoop is not present. In severe cases the paroxysms of coughing are frequent, distressing, and exhausting, and may be followed by vomiting. Bleeding from the nose and throat may occur. The tongue often becomes ulcerated underneath. The lung tissue tends to become stretched with the result that in delicate children the disease may prepare the way for tuberculosis of the lungs. Common complications of the digestive system are diarrhoea and vomiting, so that the nutritition of the child is interfered with. : . TREATMENT. First, preventive: The longer a child lives before whooping cough is contracted the greater is the chance of recovery and the less the risk of permanent injury. Unnecessary exposure to infection is therefore never justifiable. Duringthe early catarrhal stage the'disease is readily communicable, and as the diagnosis often cannot be made with certainty, measures to prevent spread of infection are instituted with difficulty. A child suffering from -whooping cough should be excluded from school 'and isolated from other children and from all members, of She family who have not had the disease. Children who have been exposed to risk of infection should be excluded from school'and association with other children, for three weeks from the date; of .exposure. Particular care must be used to prevent the infection of infants, delicate children, and: those predisposed to tuberculosis. The patient must be isolated until the characteristic spasmodic cough and the whooping have ceased for at least two weeks, or in the case of persistent whooping for not less than six weeks from the commencement of a spasmodic cough. Secondly, treatment of patient: If your chlid shows the first signs Of whooping cough call the doctor and follow his instructions. If possible select a large, light, well-ventilated room with fireplace for sick room, as abundance of fresh air is desirable. During the acute stage-the room should be kept at 4 temperature of from 60dcg to 70deg F. The use three or four times daily of inhalations of friar's balsam or eucalyptus (one teaspooiJul to a pint of. foiling water) is often helpful. When the temperature be-| comes normal,- if tliere are no compli-

cations, it is unnecessary for the child to be confined to bed. During the summer he should be kept in the open as much as possible. Food should be light and easily digested. Dry or crumbly food likely to provoke a sit of coughing, as well as indigestible articles of diet, should be avoided. An :gg and milk well beaten and flavouv:d with a little sugar and vanilla makes i good meal. If vomiting takes place immediately after a meal, food should be given again about ten mimltes later. Small quantities of food at comparatively frequent intervals are to be preferred to a few large meals a day. Care should be taken, that the bowels move daily. Woollen underclothing should be used because of the tendency for the patient to perspire during th<v paroxysms with subsequent tendency tv chilling. In cases where the abdominal muscles are weak; as in young and delicate children, the frequency of the paroxysms and attacks of vomiting may be much diminished by the use of a close-fitting abdominal binder. • For severe paroxysms of coughing medical advice should be obtained. If possible, after severe whooping cough, in order to ensure complete recovery, children should be sent to the seaside or country for a good holiday. '~ Precautions of the sick-room: A.l secretions should be received in paper or cloth and burned. Through carelessness in this respect the disease :s spread. Separate cups, glasses, plates, and spoons should be used in the sickroom. Bed linen, bed clothing, towels, etc., should not be sent to the laundry until after boiling or soaking overnight in a solution of carbolic acid. (Strength, 1 in 20.) Remember that carelessness spreads whooping cough. Be sure that your child does.not spread disease and.poasible death to others. Do not let him associate with other children until he is perfectly well.