HEALTH NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 176, 26 June 1926, Page 2

HEALTH NOTES

WHOOPING COUGH. SCOURGE OF CHILDHOOD. ITS NATURE, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. [Contributed by Department of Health.] Whooping cough is one of the most infectious of tho common diseases of childhood. During the last ten years 502 deaths have occurred from this disease in New Zealand, an average of 50 a year. It is a distressing malady 1 in itself, and often leaves behind serious damage to the sufferer. Whooping cough may be acquired at any age, but as it is so infectious few people escape it in childhood, and many parents have come to regard it as one of the almost inevitable accompaniments of childhood. Children under five years are most frequently attacked. The disease is particularly fatal to infants and the very aged. A germ discovered in 1906 by Bordet and Gengou is generally accepted as the true cause of tho disease. One attack almost always protects from future infection, and true second attacks occur only rarely. MODE OF TRANSMISSION. 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 tho 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. MODE OF ONSET. Whooping cough starts with a slight cold, running at the nose, fever and a dry cough. The eyes are bloodshot; in a few days there are paroxysms of coughing, after which the breath is drawn in with a sharp scraping sound —tire characteristic “whoop.” In some cases the whoop is not present. In severe cases jthe 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 it is not uncommon for the disease to bo followed by tuberculosis of the lungs. Common complications of the digestive system arc diarrhoea and vomiting, so that the nutrition 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. During the 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 all members of the family who have not had the disease. As the infectious period is indefinite and often prolonged, it is a good plan to send children of the, family who have not had tho disease to another home where thero arc no children. Children who have been exposed to risk of inicetion should be excluded from school and association with other -children for three weeks from the date of exposure. Particular caro must be used to prevent tho infection of infants, delicate children and those predisposed to tuberculosis. The patient must ho 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 child shows the first signs of whooping cough call the doctor and follow his instructions. If possible select a large, light, well-ventilated room for the sick-room, as abundance of fresh air itf desirable. During the acute stage tho room should he kept at a temperature of from fiOdcg, to 70deg. F. When the temperature be comes normal, if there are no complications, it is unnecessary for the child to bo confined to bed. During the summer he should he kept in the open as much as possible. Food should ho light and easily digested. An egg and milk well beaten and flavoured with a little sugar and vanilla makes a good meal. Care should be taken that the bowels move daily. Woollen underclothing should be used because of the tendency of the patient to perspire during the paroxysms, with subsequent tendency to chilling. In cases where the abdominal muscles are weak, as in young and delicate children, the frequency of tho paroxysms and attacks of vomiting may he much diminished bv the use of a close-fitting abdominal hinder. For severe paroxysms of coughing medical advice should bo 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 tho sick-room. —All secretions should he received in paper or cloth and burned. Through carelessness in this respect the disease is spread. Separate cups, glasses, plates and spoons should be used in the sick-room. 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 possible death to others. Do not let him associate with other children until ho is perfectly well.