DIPHTHERIA CASES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 8

DIPHTHERIA CASES

EARLY TREATMENT ESSENTIAL

The necessity of early treatment in cases of diphtheria was emphasised by Dr. F. S. Maclean, Medical Officer.; of Health, Wellington, when commenting upon the fact that the Central Wellington area reported that last week there were thirteen cases of diphtheria, including two deaths. The number of cases was stated to be approximately the same as for the same period last year. j Commenting on the two deaths, Dr. Maclean said that they were both children. In the past investigation had shown that, where deaths occurred, it was usually because of some delay in getting treatment. In nearly every case, if a doctor were consulted immediately, the child would recover. However, children were sometimes ill for two or three days before a doctor was called, parents making the mistake of thinking that all that was wrong was a sore throat.

The Department was concerned at the number of cases in the Upper. Hutt district in proportion to the population, said Dr. Maclean, but as the cases were well spread and were not confined to any particular school or class, it was not possible to carry out any intelligent search for carriers. A certain amount of swabbing had been carried out, but the Department was putting its faith in its immunisation campaign among the schools children.

"It takes a little while to build up immunity," he added, "but in the course of a few weeks, the disease in the schools should be a back number. The Department very much regrets the two deaths, but is not alarmed at the position as regards the district as a whole."