HEALTH NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 17 August 1927, Page 9

HEALTH NOTES.

MEASLES. RISK. IN IM'jSI Dh'VH AI. SCHOOLS. (Contributed by the Department ol I Ipa t tii .) Aleasle* hits 4icoit epidemic in mild to: in generally throughout iihial pmLimis ol the Dominion lor the last uvu incut hi>. Ip is not a <1 n c*■ i;s,o which is mu iliable to t!m Department of lleatlh, 1 ut Uii« iuiwi mai.mi is gleaned from medical pi actiliouoi s. aim report tba.t ia geticiail the cases are liii.icl. Mealies is a widely J.isti uouteti, high iy communicable d.seaoe to winch tinman beings 'are a!mo,S't universal ly stis teplible. JJnilino; tlie lara six' years "there have been m New Zealand two nmidied and forty death's from tins cause. Kew e-cape the disease m the long run. and since one attack almost always confer,s lasting immunity people tii ink that a child may a<j well get it oxer. Though, this disease, however, is often imid and traiusient, it may he exceedingly dangerous owing to compiication.s. developing. it tends to bo more severe in children Hinder six years of age. In older children measles is not so deadly of itself, but it lowers the resistance of the patient and opens the gate for the introduction of germs of other diseases. it is therefore necessary that care should be taken even when the illness is apparently slight in character. , SYMPTOMS. During an epidemic of measles, expect that a child may be sickening when it seems to- be suffering 4 rom a. bad cold. Symptom**, develop commonly about eleven days after exposure to infection. The characteristic onset is its followis,: There i*s> running at the eyes and nose, flight hoarse ness, ami a hard cough, wuth in.erea.siug feverishness, and alien about the fourth day spots begin to appear on the forehead and face, and soon plead down over the entire body. The <%pots c-oJllcct in large red blotches and itch. Remaining at its height a day or two, the disease, a.s g :uie. abates gradually, and at the end ol a iortnight, or it may be sooner, the child is practically well. Peeling *s> represented by a powdery condition of skin, luardiy, however, noticeable. The course, however, nu\y be less favourable, the <li.sea,se assuming a virulent form almost from the onset. It. may give rise to complications, especially bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia, a,ml often prepares the way for tuberculosis. Other complications are disease of the middle ear, leading to ear discharge, and this may be associated with inflammatory conditions of the eye-lids and a tendency to serious weakness of the eyes which, unless due care is taken, may become permanent. (lA RT'j AND THRVTMENT. As <soon as your child bows the first sigiiis fit measles, if lie sneezet?, cough?, and bis eyes are watery, keep him out of school —indoors —and away from other children. Rut him in bed at once in a. separate room if possible. Let there be no glaring light, either by day or night. Keep the room com lor t ably warm arid well ventilated. See that the diet is light in character and the bowels kept well open. It is advisable to coil in the doctor at once, a.s neglect, of treatment may result in serious consequences . Be sure' to keep the child’s eye*» .ears, mouth, and nostrils perfectly clean. '1 he discharge fiom the nose, throat, and ears should bo carefully gathered in clean rags 'and burned. -Measles can easily be caught through t(he disease germs the sick person (spreads by talking and coughing, for thus reason only the doctor and tilio person who is nursing patient should enter the <sick room. W hen the skin begins to pe<ji. oil the body or bathe t lie pat ient in warm waiter. Keep the child in bed lor at least Jour days alter the rash lias subsided and the temperature is normal. Db not let him strain his _ eyes in poring over (indy-printed. books. Re careful >.s to exposure to cold until tlie health is completely re-established. D possdde. alter an attack of measles a good hole day in tlie country or at the seaside n> advisable. Do not let the child' sptead the infection pi others. Remember that meas.les is considered to he most infectious, from the onset ol the catarrhal symptoms, to .the disappearance of 'tiie eruption. The period ol exclusion from association with others must be continued until at least ■»wo weeks after the appearance of the rash, anil until c<;n vale see lice l-s completely ivt abiished. RISK IN RI HIDW.VH A.R Sill IDOLS. In boarding schooLs ami similar institutions lor children there is I ways the super-added risk that the tlisea.se or one of its complications, particularly pneumonia, may ais-su me a virulent character. 'line medical i.tteiubio'.s oi ■-neb institutions usualv iigen a tuo.se watch for viru'lence, and when there us any sign of this it is, highly necessary that prompt steps lie taken not only to isolate bhe erases, but also to pro-, vide ample- .space ami ventilation for all tlie inmates, even .should mich piovision out,ail the closing of such an institution for a limited period. The superintendents of such institutions ] should call m u. medical practitioner for all cases ol mcaele.s m view ol the special risk borne by children’s boarding schools. REAR, IN MINI). Measles is an acute infectyai. Measles is -a serimas disease in children of tender year's. A grave responsibility lests with a parent or guardian who treats it lightly in a. child and thiongh. indifference exposes other children of the household or community to infection. Cfliildren suffering from this disease should lie strictly isolated and carefully nursed, and every precaution taken to prevent its spread to others. Medical advice should be immediately obtained and followed.