RHEUMATIC CHILDREN

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1928, Page 12

RHEUMATIC CHILDREN

10,000 LONDON SUFFERERS. A good deal of research work has recently been carried out in connection with the subject of rheumatism and rheumatic infection in children, and the London Board of Education has frequently called attention to the important place that rheumatism occupies among the diseases of school age. One difficulty seems to be the lack of a clear definition as to what is included in the term rheumatism as distinct from acute rheumatic fever. Rheumatic infection is often, unrecognised until the heart itself is affected, but Dr Menzies, of the London County Council, computes that there are in' the London areas not less than 10,000 children who have suffered or who are suffering from rheumatic symptoms and that 600-700 children are absent from school for long periods on that account. This f represents 25 per cent of the chronic ; invalidity among children. Even j where no definite rheumatic manifesta- | tions are seen, children are often in I a chronic state of ill-health, anaemic and ill-nourished. They attend school untilbad weather or some other circumstance predisposing to a breakdown makes the disease manifest. Damp or wet feet, wet clothing, accompanied by a cold atmosphere in the school, lack of a suitable midday meal, lack of care in, the home, improper nutrition —all these things minister to the growth of rheumatism. Systematic inspection I and treatment of the teeth, nose and i throat will help to diminish the incii deuce of rheumatism, but cannot he I entirely effective while the child Is 1 subject to an environment that is favourable to the disease.