HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Grey River Argus, 12 August 1946, Page 2

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

SORE THROATS (By the Department of HealthV Some mothers have an entirely wrong idea about sore throats. Thev become confused because of diphtheria immunisations, The reasoning is that because their child has been protected by the full course of immunisation against diphtheria there is no need to worry unduly about a septic sore throat. Let’s think of the septic throat alone at first. The tonsils and neighbouring parts of the throat are attacked by germs, and the chief danger is in the sepsis that is occurring inside, on the surface and around the tonsil. This poisonous material is, some of it, getting into and circulating in the blood stream. Chills and fever may follow and there is always the risk of germs settling in joints or heart or other organs, or of setting up rheumatic fever. So supposing the idea of absolute safety ffrom diphtheria was correct that would be no excuse for treating any sore throat lightly. A little child was seen recently, with grossly enlarged septic tonsils and acutely inflamed throat. Up till then it had been without effective treatment or medical attention, just because mother thought there was nothing to worry about, since the child has had injections against diphtheria. That, mother did not realise how a septic throat lays the whole body open to risk. A septic throat demands immediate treatment. Now let us look at the diphtheria angle. It is not true that diphtheria immunisation is an absolute protection against diphtheria. What is established is that immunisation so reduces the risk of getting diphtheria as to make it foolish to chance the disease any more—if in spite of immunisation you should be unlucky enough to contract it, the disease will be mild and risk of fatality immensely reduced. No septic throat should be neglected. Modern drug treatment so shortens the illness and reduces likelihood of complications that medical attention should be obtained.