HEALTH NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 29 May 1930, Page 2

HEALTH NOTES

WHOOPING COUGH EARLY SIGNS AND TREATMENT (Contributed by the Department of Health}. Whooping cough is. a contagious disease characterised by an inflammation of the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes, associated with a peculiar spasmodic cough, ending, in a long-drawn-out inspiration accompanied, by a sound known as the ''whoop,'-' from which the disease gets'its' narne. It is caused by a germ present iri the discharges from, the . nose . and mouth, Which is disseminated through , the, .air during the _«pells of coughing. Most cases occur before the tenth year,, and one attack is .usually protective, for the rest .of life. It is' believed that girls Sre more liable to contract the disease than boys. ; . . ' ■ ... Symptoms: The incubation period is from .4 to 14 days.-In the beginning the symptoms are like those of a severe cold. There is redness .of . the. lining membrane of the nose and. throat, profuse discharge from this,membrane, and a hoarse, dry cough. The face is swollen, the eyes suffused and ■watery',; the eyelids, swollen and pink in colour. . .The cdugh is severe and. dirt of .all proportion to the other physical signs. There is fever, but the temperature, dbeS4ibt; hwk a rule, remain above normal after the first few days. After these symptoms have existed for 10. days or 2 the cough' changes in character. It occurs in paroxysms, which consist of/a. number of short, quick coughs, followed vby, a' lOßg'-drawri-out inhalation of air .accompanied by the noise known as the whoop. The coughing spell often terminates with vomiting. Inflammation: of the kidneys jflay.be present, and the child generally loses fat and presents a run-dowri, appearance. Consumption riot infrequently follows .-an attack 6'f this disease", and grejit' caro "should be taken to prevent a,child.suffering from whooping cough' front" coitiing m contactwith- corisuhiptHes. "The exhaustion caused by whooping cough makes it more" liable td contract consumption. [/' . .;• ""•„'- ' Prevention: As patients to spread infection six weeks after- recovery;, it is veiy difficult to control the spread of whooping cough.. As,. however, it is such a distressing disease, every effor,t should be made to, keep well (children from associating with those, having'the disease. Children withi the .._ disease should be allowed t0.,g0 out doors, bu,t should not be permitted to go to school, or to movihg-picture shows, or ride in street cars, or in :any public vehicle where they may come in contact with other children:

TREATMENT First-Preventive: The longer a child lives before whooping cough is contracted the greater .is the chance of recbvr ery and the less the risk of permanent injury. Unnecessary exposure to infectionis 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 djifficulty. A child suffering from whooping cough should be excluded from school and isolated from other children and from all members of the family who have not had,the disease. Children who have been exposed to risk of infection should, be; excluded from: school, and association with'other children for three weeks from the date of exposure. The patient must be isolated until the characteristic spasmodic cough- 'and' vthe whooping has ceased for at least two weeks, or in the case of persistent whooping for not less than 1 six weeks from the commencement of a spasmodic cough. „ ...... Secondly—Treatment of Patient:' If your child shows the first signs <if whooping cough call the doctor and fol- ' low his instructions., If possible select a large, lightj well-ventilated room for the sick r room; an abundance of fresh air is desirable. During the acute stage "the \ room should be kept at a temperature of from 60 deg. to 70 deg. F. When the temperature becomes normal, if there are no complications, it is unnecessary for the child to be confined to bed. During the summer.he should be kept in the open as much as possible. Food should be light and easily digested. Care should j be taken that the bowels move daily. Woollen underclothing should be used because of the tendency, for. 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 the paroxysms and attacks of vomiting may be much diminished by the use of a close ? fitting abdominal binder-. For severe paroxysms of cough- ■ ing. medical advice should be obtained. 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 he is perfectly well.