OUR BABIES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 73, 21 June 1928, Page 2

OUR BABIES

EY lIY GET A. Published under the auspices cf the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.”

INFECTIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF' EARLY CHILDHOOD. .

We take the liberty of quoting again from Miss Liddiard’s “Mothercraft Manual,” this time on the subject of the ailments and troubles of childhood. -b'iifi

Miss Liddiard writes as follows “This chapter is written to guide the mother as to the recognition of some of the more common infectious and contagious diseases of childhood, and to teach the principle of prevention, ami the simple precautions which must be taken if the patient has to be nursed at home. In all cases -of fever a doctor should be called in; the mother must not attempt to diagnose or treat the case

herscit , : ‘,,erms, or bacteria, are minute anir als or plants. These enter the baby , (a) Through the skin, when there is usually a local ' infection. The leucocytes, or white cells in the blood, surround and attack the invader’; the dead leucocytes form pus or matter. If these leucocytes are strong enough the invader is defeated, and does not gain any more ground; if not, either the germ itself or its poison gets into the blood stream, when there is a general infection. (b) These germs may enter through the mouth in water, milk, dust, etc. (c) They may be transmitted on articles of clothing, (d) They may be transmitted from a per son who has the disease to a healthy

person. “The most important point in regard to infections is prevention. “By care as to food, clothing, and general hygiene, as described in previous chapters, a strong, healthy body is huilt, which is more resistant to disease and suffers less from an attack. All the law of health must be studied and kept ;tliis is the surest way to prevent infection J and to ensure a quick recovery, if 1 the disease is contracted, j “Cleanliness is of the greatest imiportancs .in everything connected I with the child. Dust -is a great germ-carrier. All the children’s surroundings and clothing should he washable. They should be taqght clean habits from the beginning, such as washing o fthe hands before meals, etc. On the other hand, life must not be madq a bruden by never allowing them to get dirty, a little healthy dirt will dp no harm as long as care is taken as to personal habits of cleanliness and frequent washing of clothing. , “Travelling in crowded trains and cars is to be avoided as much as possible, especially at the time of (a n epidemic. At such times it is best to keep children from contact with others. “Remember that the discharges aie always infectious. Let each child have a separate handkerchief; teach them not to cough without turning away from others, etc. In institutions and hospitals cots should be ’always kept at least 4ft apart. “It is a great mistake' to expose children purposely to infection, as is sometimes done when the mother thinks it best for all the children to have a certain complaint together. Many children do not contract some so-called childish diseases at all, and while one member of a family may have a slight attack another may have a very bad one, with serious complications.

‘ It is always better that infectious cases should be nursed in a fever hospital, but in some isolated districts the patient has to be nursed at home.

“The room chosen should be near the bathroom if possible, large and airy. All hangings, such as cur-

tains, chintz covers, and carpets should be removed. Only the necessarv fin aiture should be left behind. Everything used should be washable, and only such toys and hooks as can afterwards be burned should bo allowed. Old clean muslin 01 rags should be used instead of handkerchiefs; these should be at once put into paper bags and burned.

“As far as possible one person only should attend to the patient. She should wear a cap covering her hair, and an overall while in the room; leave it hanging just inside tlie door. She should wash her hands thoroughly before mixing with the rest of the family. All the crockery, etc., must he kept quite separate and boiled once a day. “When pronounced free from infection, the patient must have a

■bath, wash the hair, and put on all clean clothes.

“The room must be disinfected. The mattress should be sent to a disinfecting stai/ion. When the

room is opened it should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water, windows and doors left open, and thoroughly aired before being used again. “Infectious diseases have three stages:— (a) That of incubation, the time from which the germ gains entrance to the first signs of disease. (b) That of acute illness. (c) That of convalescence. “All three periods are infectious, but the first more so, the discharges being in all cases very infectious. ‘The following hints apply to the nursing of all fevers: “1. Give only a light diet; plenty of fluid, but do not push food. In the case of a baby, dilute the milk mixture; if an older child, give fluids only.

“2. The bowels must be kept open. Fluid magnesia is one of the best aperients to use.

“3. Careful nursing. The patient should be kept in bed, lightly clothed, not bathed, but washed over quickly with warm water on the knee. Careful watch must be kept that the patient does not get overheated. The clothes must be changed if damp through excessive perspiration. Sometimes the feet remain cold with a high temperature, in which case a hot bottle must be put at the foot of the cot. “As soon as any of the following symptoms are recognised, or only suspected, a doctor should be called in, and the child isolated. It is always better to err on the side of being too careful.” Next week we shall give Miss Liddiard’s notes on the incubation periods and distinguishing features of the common infectious fevers.