CASES OF MEASLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 6

CASES OF MEASLES.

METHODS OF TREATMENT. CARE IN EARLY STAGES. PREVENTIVE MEASURES. Measles is a widely distributed, highly communicable disease to which human beings are almost universally susceptible. During the past six years there have been in Jve\v Zealand two hundred and forty deaths from this cause. Few escape the disease in the long run, and since one attack almost always confers lasting immunity people think that a child may as well get it over.

However, although the disease is often mild and transient, it may be exceedingly dangerous owing to complications developing. It tends to be more severe in children under six years of age. In older children measles is not so deadly of itself, but it lowers the resistence of the patient and opens the gate for the introduction cf germs of other diseases. It is, therefore, necessary that carc should be taken even when the illness is apparently slight in character.

During an epidemic of measles, expect that a child may be sickening when it seems to be suffering from a bad cold. Symptoms develop commonly about eleven days after exposure to infection. The characteristic onset is as follows: There is running at the eyes and nose, slight hoarseness, and a hard cough with increasing feverishness, and then about the fourth day spots begin to appear on the forehead and face, and soon spread down over the entire body. The • spots collect in large red blotches and itch.

Danger of Compllci'.lcns. Rcnuimiig at its height for a day or two, the disease, as a rule, abates gradually, and at the end of a fortnight, or it may be sotme*, the child is practically well. Peeling is represented by a powdery condition of the skin, hardly, however, noticeable. The course, however, may be less favourable, the disease assuming a virulent form almost from the onset. It may give rise to complications, especially bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia and often prepares the way for tuberculosis. Other complictions 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.

As soon as a child shows the first signs of measles, if he sneezes, coughs, and his eyes are watery, keep him out of school—indoors—and away from other children. Put hirn to bed at once in a separate room if possible. Let thero be no glaring light, either by day or night. Keep the room comfortably warm and well ventilated. See that the diet is light in character and the bowels kept well open.

Avoiding Spread of Germs. It is advisable to call in the doctor at once, as neglect of treatment may result in serious consequences. Be sure to keep the child's eyes, ears, mouth and nostrils perfectly clean. The discharge from the nose, throat and ears should be carefully gathered in clean rags and burned. Measles can easily be caught through the disease germs the sick person spreads by talking and coughing. For this reason only the doctor and the person who is nursing the patient should enter the sick room. When the skin begins to peel, oil the body or bathe the patient iu warm water.

Keep the child in bed for at least four days after the rash has subsided and the temperature is normal. Do not let him strain his eyes in poring over finelyprinted books. Be careful as to exposure to cold until the health is completely reestablished. If possible, after an attack of measles, a good holiday in the country or at the seaside is advisable. Do not let the child spread the infection to others. Remember that measles is considered to be most infectious from the onset of the catarrhal symptoms to the disappearance of the eruption. The period of exclusion from association with others must be continued until at least two weeks after the appearance of the rash, and until convalescence is completely established.

Use of Preventive Serum. A new means of protecting a child from measles has been recently discovered. It is known that serum from the blood of individuals who have recovered from an attack of measles, especially that of recent convalescents, will confer an immunity lasting a few weeks upon those into whom it is injected subcutaneously. Children who have been exposed to risk of infection may be protected from an attack of measles by this means until the danger is past, provided the injection of serum is given soon after exposure to infection. Early injection of serum, therefore, would be extremely useful in certain circumstances, as for instance, in preventing the spread of an epidemic throughout households and in boarding schools and similar institutions. Where, however, the injection is not made until five to seven days after exposure to infection, a modified and mild attack of measles results, which is said to give lasting protection. It is clear, therefore, that we thus possess an effective method of controlling measles. We have a means of preventing serious outbreaks in schools and hospitals, of mitigating the severity of attacks in cases seen up to seven days after exposure to infection and of conferring permanent or temporary immunity according to the exigencies of the occasion. The careful and considered use of such a method may well rob the disease of its worst perils. In America and on the Continent reports of this preventive treatment of measles are very favoflrable, and furnish strong argument that there is a good case for trying it in this country.