HEALTH NOTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18583, 2 June 1930, Page 3

HEALTH NOTES

WHOOPING COUGH (Contributed by 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 name. It is caused by a germ present in the discharges from the nose and mouth, which is dfisseminated through the air during the spells 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 are more liable to contract the disease than boys. Symptoms: The incubation period is from 4to 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 cough is severe, and out of all proportion to the other physical signs. There is fever, but the temperature does not, as a rule, remain above normal after the first few days. After these symptoms have existed for ten days of two weeks, the cough changes in character. It occurs in paroxysms, which consist of a number of short, quick coughs, followed by a lcng-cfrawn-out inhalation of air accompanied by the noise knoym as the whoop. The coughing spell often terminates with vomiting. Inflammation of the kidneys may be present, and the child generally loses fat, and presents a run-down appearance. Consumption not infrequently follows an attack of this disease, and great care should be taken to prevent a child suffering from whooping cough from coming in contact with consumptives. The exhaustion caused by whooping cough makes it more liable to contract consumption. Prevention.—As patients continue to spread infection six weeks after recovery, it is very difficult to control the spread of whooping cough. As, however, it is such a distressing disease, every effort should be made to keep well children from associating with those having the disease. Children with the disease should be allowed to go outdoors, but should not be permitted to go to school, or to movingpicture 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 recovery, and the less the risk of permanent injury. Unnecessary exposure to infection is therefore not 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 difficulty. 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 bee nexposed to a 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 the whooping has ceased for at least two weeks, or in the case of persistent whooping for not less than six weeks from the commencement of a spasmodic cough. Secondly—Treatment of Patient. If your child shows the first signs of whooping cough call the doctor and follow his instructions. If possible select a large, light, well-ventilated room for the sick-room, as abundance of fresh air is desirable. During the acute stage the room should be kept at a temperature of from GOdeg. to 70deg. 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 be taken that the bowels move daily. Woollen underclothing should be used, because of the tendency of the patient to perspire during the paroxysms, with subsequent tendency to chilling. In cases where the abdominal muscles are weak, as 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 coughing medical advice should be obtained.

Remember that carelessness spreads whooping cough. Ee 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.