HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 7, 5 August 1946, Page 6

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

SORE THROATS (By the Department of Health) Some mothers have an entirely wrong idea about sore throats. They become confused because of diphtheria immunisations. The reason is that because their child has been protected by the full coase of immunisation against diphtheria there is no need to worry unduly about a septic sore throat. Lots think of the septic throat alone at first. The tonsils and neighbouring parts of the throat are attacked by germs, and the chief danger is in the sepsis that is occurring inside, on the surface and around the tonsils. This poisonous material is, some of it, getting' into and circulating in the blood stream. Chills and fever may follow and there is always the risk of germs settling in the joints or heart or other organs, or of setting up rheumatic fever. So supposing the idea of absolute safety from diphtheria was correct that would be no excuse for treating any sore throat lightly.

A little girl was.seen recently with grossly enlarged septic tonsils and acutely inflamed throat. Up till then it had been without effective treatment or medical attention, just because mother-thought there was nothing to worry about since the child had had injections against diphtheria She did not realise how a septic throat lays the whole body open to risk. A septic throat demands immediate treatment.

Now let’s look at the. diphtheria angle. It is not true that diphtheria immunisation is an absolute protection against diphtheria. What : s established is 'that immunisation so reduces the risk of getting htheria as to make it foolish to chance the. disease any more - if in spite of immunisanion you should be unlucky enough to contract it the. disease will be mild and risk of fatality immensely reduced. No septic throat,should, be neglected. Modern drug treatment so shortens the illness and reduces likelihood of complications that medical attention should be obtained.