HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Chronicle (Levin), 31 December 1946, Page 3

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

CHILDEEN'S UPSETS (By the Departrnent of Health.) In summer timo— picnic time, lioliday time — tlie children 's routine is apt to become disorganised. A party can be followed by vomiting, and restless night, vvitli a pale, droopy child next day, off his l'ood. Plenty to drink, more rest the next day and early to bed that night and usually all is well. But you have always to be on the lookout when there is change from the normal in a chiid. If it is a ruany nose, with sueezes, face hot and flushed, it may be just a cold. The wisest course is to lceep the child in bed until you know he is not getting worse or developing some infectious disease. If ihe throat becomes sore, the restlessness and flushing stay, and the child seems sick, it may be a septie throat, but it might be diphtlieria, especially if he has not been imnpunised and given relative protee-, tion. lt might be scarlet fever. So you will keep a weather eye oxien for rashes. A ehickenpox rash comes out early. So does a scarlet fever rash, at the end of the first or during the secoud day. The rash of measles eomes out about the fourth day. But rashes are not always due to infectious diseases. In the hot weather a rash may be due to priokly heat. Or due to a food upset or an unaccustomed food. Or due to bed bugs or fleas. Be guided by the type of the rash and. the general state of the child. If you are unsure about a rash call the doctor. If a Sore throat is a very deihiite symptom you will alwhys be wiser to call the doetor because of the diptheria risk. If you make it a rule to adopt a watchful, waiting attitude wheu your child is off colour — a day or half-day iu bed, until you feel sure nothing sei'ious is develojiing, most times the child recovers from what has been- a iirevious day's upset. If not, you get on to the 'flu or infectious disease early, and in addition limit the spread. of infeetion in wdiat is always the worst time for spreading troubles — the ffrst days of a communicable disease.