SCARLET FEVER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11671, 11 April 1916, Page 5

SCARLET FEVER.

VERY PREVALENT IN CHRISTCIRCH. HEALTH OFFICER'S WARNING. Scarlet fever is very prevalent in Christchurch and the neighbouring distrusts just now. Ih- H. Chesson,District Health Officer, states that many parents of childen who havo slight attacks fail to inform the authorities, with the result that there is a great danger of the disease spreading by infection. Dr Chesson has asked the newspapers to make it clear that cases should bo reported without delay. No time should be lost when the Bkin begins to peel off a child's hands and body. This is one of the symptoms "that cannot bo ignored. A child that shows it should bo taken from school at once,' the master should be informed, and word should be sent to the Health Department's office, or,the advice of a private medical practitioner should be obtained. In the early stages of scarlet fever, the symptoms are very mild, and some parents, in a selfish spirit or in sheer laziness, fail to take steps to have the patient isolated or properly attended to. This dilatoriness is very dangerous to the child, and it also menaces the community in which tbe patient livesThe Public Health Act provides that all cases of even suspected infectious diseases must be reported to the Health Offices as soon as suspicions are aroused. Penalties are provided for those who are neglectful in this respect. There are between sixty and seventy cases of scarlet fever in the fever hospital at Bottle Lake.