LATE INFANCY — TODDLERS — PRESCHOOL

Te Ao Hou, March 1960, Page 57

LATE INFANCY — TODDLERS — PRESCHOOL The sickness rate in this group remains too high. In too many cases it is due to neglect or carelessness on the part of the parent. Many harassed and overworked mothers with large families naturally find it difficult to cope with everything. (1) Influenza with chest complications is common—bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchospasm and bronchopneumonia (many collapse suddenly and die from this condition—often despite treatment). Many keep getting recurrent attacks of

respiratory trouble which if not promptly cleared up may leave permanent lung damage in later life, i.e. chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis. (2) Bowel troubles are often seen, i.e. epidemic diarrhoea with vomiting, dysentery and occasionally, typhoid fever. These conditions are due to infections from poor sanitation and also improper feeding methods. Too many children collapse and die suddenly from gastroenteritis. (3) Discharging ears—Otitis media is prevalent in this district and despite advice and proper medication is difficult to clear up. The germ reaches the inner side of the ear drum through the nose. Most mothers find the task of regularly cleaning the ear and instilling drops too troublesome and give up practical treatment with the result that the child reaches adulthood handicapped by being partially or totally deaf. This also retards the child's progress through school. Any infant not able to say words by the age of two years should be given a hearing test by an ear specialist. (4) Nutritional anaemia—this preventable blood condition is also found too often. It is caused mainly by a deficiency of iron in the diet, i.e. not enough meat, eggs and greens. It can also be controlled by giving the mother extra iron during the ante-natal period. (5) Unsightly skin complaints are still seen too frequently and are usually due to neglect, over-crowding and lack of cleanliness. This applies to scabies and impetigo, both of which respond to proper treatment. (6) Lastly I would mention the high mortality rate due to accidents in this group. It is not realised how far a small child can scramble or toddle in a short time—a moment's inattention and the child has fallen into a well or a river or pulled a pot full of boiling water over itself, or swallowed some kerosene. It therefore behoves parents to be watchful at all times when young children are around. At this age immunisation against old killing diseases like whooping cough, diphtheria and, lately, infantile paralysis, are carried out by District Nurses and doctors.