HEALTH NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20537, 13 July 1928, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES

INFLUENZA SCOURGE ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES (Contributed by the Department of Health.) The history of influenza shows that from time to time epidemics occur in cycles. Such epidemics present certain individual characteristics; for example, catarrhal symptoms may be more prominent in one epidemic than in another, or pneumonia may be rare in one epidemic and of frequent occurrence in the next, but these features do not detract from the common identity of the disease. The severity of the disease is augumented in winter months. It has long been common knowledge that influenza attacks all classes of the community. Persons of any age are liable to an attack, and as regards sex females, are usually more susceptible to infection. One attack is not protective against another. Indeed, as in pneumonia, in many individuals one attack seems to predispose to recurrent attacks of the disease. At present there is a certain amotmt of a mild type of influenza in the Dominion. It is therefore thought desirable to recapitulate the precautionary measures which are within the powers of the public to adopt. Well-ventilated airy rooms promote wellbeing, and to that extent at any rate, are inimical to infection; draughts are due to unskilled ventilation and are harmful; all chilling of the body surface should be prevented. Good nourishing food is desirable. A memorandum of the Royal College of Physicians states that “alcoholic excess invites disaster; within the limits of moderation each person will be wise to maintain unaltered whatever habit experience has proved to be most agreeable to his own health.” PREVENTIVE MEASURES. A simple throat gargle for ordinary use is made by adding twenty drops of liquor sodae chlorinatae to a tumbler of warm water. A solution of common table salt, one teaspoonful to a pint of warm water, to which is added enough permanganate of potash to give the liquid a pink colour (one part of permanganate in 5000), is suitable cither as a gargle or for washing the nasal passages. For the latter, a little of the liquid may be poured into the hollow' palm of the hand or : nto a small shallow receptacle like the lid of a small tin, and snuffed or drawn up the nostrils. Throat-gargling and nose-washing night and morning, or more frequently, are recommended as preventive measures, though their importance should not be over rated. They may be employed with special advantage on returning home after exposure to infection in a crowd of close contact with an infected person. Face masks made out of butter muslin or gauze should be used by those attending on severe cases of influenza. During influenza prevalence those who are able to do so will diminish their chance of contracting the disease by keeping away from all places of public resort and all crowded conveyances. Other persons are, in most cases at least, able to avoid some occasions of forming part of a crowd or assembly, without prejudice to their necessary occupations, and should do so. PRECAUTIONS WHEN ATTACKED. Staying at work after the first symptoms appear is bad for the patient and may be dangerous to others. Workers obviously ill should at once be sent or taken home. Where influenza is prevalent no person should in any way be penalised for staying away from work, bona fide, for even a slight attack of influenza or any form of feverish cold. On the contrary, he should be expected and required so to do. At the first feeling of illness or rise of temperature the patient should go to bed, keep warm, and seek medical treatment. The early stages of an attack are the most infective, but infection may persist through the illness, and segregation should be maintained at least till the temperature is normal. If the patient cannot occupy a separate room, the head of his bed should, if possible, be screened of from the rest of the apartment. Relapses and complications are much less likely to occur if the patient goes to bed at once and remains there till all fever has gone for two or three days; much harm may be done by getting about too early. Chill and over-exertion during convalescence are fruitful of evil consequences. The virus of influenza is very easily destroyed, and extensive measures of disinfection are not called for. Expectoration should be received when possible in a glazed receptacle in which is a solution of chloride of lime or other disinfectant. Discarded handkerchiefs should be immediately placed in disinfectant or, if of paper, burnt. The liability of the immediate attendants to infection may be materially diminished by avoiding inhalation of the patient’s breath, and particularly when he is coughing, sneezing, or talking. A handkerchief or other screen should be held before the mouth; and the head turned aside during coughing or sneezing. The risk of conveyance of infection by the fingers must be constantly remembered and the hands shall be washed at onec after contact with the patient or with mucus from the nose or throat.

Each case must be treated. as occasion demands, under the direction of the medical attendant. No drug has as yet been proved to have any specific curative effect on influenza, though some may be useful in guiding its course and mitigating its symptoms. The patient’s recovery should be fiilly established before he returns to work.