Scarlet Fever

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume II, Issue 2, 1 April 1909, Page 59

Scarlet Fever

The Journal of the American Medical Association says : c The advantage of hot, or at least warm, water bathing in scarlet fever is well set forth by D. H. W. Rover, of Denver, in Colorado Medicine. He premises the discussion of the hot water treatment of this disease by the statement that " what the cold bath is to typhoid fever, the hot bath is to scarlet fever." The advantages of hot baths in this disease are that they hasten the completion of the eruption ; quiet restlessness, and prevent cerebral excitation ; dilate the psrepteral blood vessels and increase heat radiation and diaphocesis, which is often absent in this disease ; tend to prevent itching ; relieve the congestion of the kidneys due to dry skin ; make disquamation more rapid, and tend to remove, daily, the dry epsichemis that, if not prevented by oily applications, will fly about anel supposedly spread the contagion. With a warm room anel a bathroom handy there is no question that hot or warm bathing

iii scarlet fever is an advance in the treatment of that disease. If a hot bath is not available, hot water sponging should be done daily. If, during the disquannative stage, much itching or irritation is present, or the skin is dry ; rubbing in some clean olive oil, or some clean, diluted wool fat preparation is advisable. While the patient may be sponged finally before he leaves the sick room with some mild antiseptic solution, there should be no daily application of germicide, lest absorption and poisoning take place. While there is some doubt whether the epidermal scales of scarlatina are the cause of the spread of the disease, until there is proof that such is not a means of propagation, the patient should be isolated until scaling is complete, anel, as Rover has emphasised, hot baths and inunction e)f oil will hasten the completion of the disquannatioii."—American Journal of Nursing.