SCARLET FEVER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 816, 13 May 1910, Page 3

SCARLET FEVER.

HOW TO DETECT THE DISEASE,

In view of the large number of cases of scarlet fever or sdarlatina, throughout; the-Dominion, a pamphlet issued in regard to the disease' by the Public Health Department is of interest. ,/'Many persons," says the publication, regard scarlet fever, or scarlatina, as a comparatively unimportant disease. This is a great mistake.,; Although many, of the recent epidemics have been characterised by their extreme mildness, and consequently low rato of mortality, yet from hitherto unexplained causes it is liable at times to assume a most malignant type It is of the greatest importance that children should run no risk ..of mfectwn, for the disease is moro fatal to young children than adults; moreover children are far more susceptible to the diseace. Practically, the longer children are enabled to avoid the infection the less -likely, they ;.ro to contact the disease. It is not a necessary disease, but a disease * that can and should be provented.

In a child the first symptoms of scarlet lover is usually, vomiting accompanied by a sensation of dullness; but very oiten a soro throut. it, tin/ first thins complained of. About the second day of the illness a red rash is noticed, particularly about the upper part of the body; it rarely attacks the face. Like other diseases of- an infectious nature, tho attack may bo so mild us to escape detection until the skin begins to peel; even in such mild cases the fever may leave after-effects, such as inflammation of the kidneys and dropsy, discharge from tho ears, and deafness. It sometimes causes a permanent weakness of •the heart.

The disease is spread by meaM of infected particles, or germs which cannot ue seen with the naked eye. These germs, are given off from a person suffering from scarlet fever during the whole period of his illness; in the first stages chiefly by the breath, stin, and discharges, but later by. the particles of dried skin, which are shed in peeling It is said that the throat.will give off the infection in Tery late stages of the disease.

Ihe chief safeguards against the spread of scarlet fever are: (1) Prompt isolation of the patient; (2) thorough disinfection"