Health Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 86, 2 July 1927, Page 5

Health Notes

DIPHTHERIA MAKING CHILDREN IMMUNE (Contributed by the Department of Health.) Diphtheria is caused by a bacillus, discovered by KYebs in ISS3, and cultured by Loeffler in ISS4. The disease does not arise directly from defective drainage and sanitation, though this may be a predisposing factor in that offensive gases lower the body’s resistance, making is easy for the germ to establish itself. The bacilli establish themselves in the throat or nose usually, and by swabbing patients and contacts it is possible to isolate those who are likely to spread the disease, and so to check epidemics to some extent. Healthy people, adults or children, are found, especially in times of epidemic, who carry the organism in the throat or nose without having the disease. These “carriers” are also detected by swabbing, and usually isolated till all bacilli have either disappeared under treatment, or have been proved, by more extensive laboratory tests, to be non-virulent and harmless. Patients, contacts, and carriers during their period of isolation should be avoided by all except those in attendance, the disease being spread from case or carrier to others. Anyone having abnormal tonsils, adenoids, or nasal troubles accompanied with discharge give the bacil-

lus ready entrance, and is particularly liable to become a carrier or a case. Should the carrier state eventuate in such a person, the condition is apt to be stubborn, the best treatment being removal of the tonsils and adenoids. In any throat where these organs are enlarged or diseased, it is sound policy to have them removed. Sore throat with a passing indisposition of a day or so may in reality be mild diphtheria, though of such slight severity as to be missed unless watched for; and this type of disease may damage the heart. Anti-Toxin The diphtheria bacillus, while living as a parasite in the nose or throat, forms a poison known as “toxin” which circulates in the blood stream, damaging the tissues generally, and causing such symptoms as fever and disordered heart action. The body, objecting to the presence of this toxin, forms “anti-toxin” to combat its effects. The severity of the attack and its ultimate conclusion depends on how successful is this anti-toxin counterattack. It has been possible to manufacture this anti-toxin, and to use it in helping patients in their struggle against the toxin of the disease. It is also used as a preventive, being given to contacts (people who have been exposed to infection) as a protection, A Better Method. Fortunately a better and more lasting immunity can be produced by stimulating the body to manufacture its own anti-toxin. This is done by injecting a specially prepared toxin into the body, when anti-toxin appears later in the blood. The presence of toxin acts not only as a stimulus to anti-toxin production, but also increases the body’s power of producing anti-toxin. In practice the toxin is mixed with a little anti-toxin, when it acts more efficiently. At least three injections of toxin-anti-toxin mixture are given beneath the skin of the arm, at weekly intervals. Immunity slowly develops but may not be fully formed for three to six months. Epidemics would to a large extent be avoided and schools freed from the menace of diphtheria were this preventive measure freely made, use of. Protective Inoculation The most dangerous age for a child to contract diphtheria is from two to five years. A child is naturally protected for about six months by immunity handed down from the mother. Thereafter this protection is lost, and parents should avail themselves of the toxin-anti-toxin treatment described above. The best time is at the age of six months, when natural immunity begins to fail. In London during the five years 1921-1925, of the total deaths from diphtheria, 57 per cent, occurred under five years of age. Evidence of diphtheria may be so slight that a physician is not called early enough. Or it may occur in the windpipe, causing croup without sore throat, and advancing too far before assistance is obtained. Another form, nasal diphtheria, may be regarded as a common cold until too late. A person contracting diphtheria must undergo a period of illness, And whether this be mild or severe, may sometimes suffer bad after-effects, especially heart disorders.

In various countries children have been, and are being, treated in mass with toxin-anti-toxin. It has proved itself safe. It is seldom that children under 10 notice any after-effects, and wherever the use of toxin-anti-toxin has been systematically employed diphtheria has steadily decreased. AVhen a child’s life may be at stake, and when a simple protection is at hand, parents should cease to take chances, and avail themselves of the immunity readily established. In New Zealand during the last three years several thousands of school children have been given this protective inoculation against diphtheria. In districts where this has been carried out its beneficial results have been clearly evident.