INFLUENZA

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1931, Page 5

INFLUENZA

WIDESPREAD OUTBREAK

•'EARLY GARE MEANS SAFETY"

In view of a, rather widespread outbreak of seasonal influenza, the Department of Health draws attention to certain measures it, recommends the individual to adopt for protection of himself 'and.those with. whom he conies in, contact. ; ' ■;"■■ • ' • ■ - Influenza begins like a cold. There-, may bo jpairis in' tho head;1 eyes, and limbs;;/& watery' discharge from the nose, "chilly sensations, sore throat, cqugh>. and ..extreme muscular prostra-! tibh.;--There, may also be abdominal symptoms,:s^ch:as nausea,, diarrhoea^ vomiting, and- crimps. There is fever, which' jyaries a«cor^ing to the (intensity: of thSidiseasc./ 'There are many-yafi^ ties of the disease, and any organ of thebody iriaybe*attackod; Pneumonia is.a-frequent complication... At the first Reeling of "illness or rise of tern* peratSr.6, the patient should go. to bed, keep "warnv and seek medical treatment. v.'.K'elapseS and complications are much less likely to occur if : the,patient goes to bed at once, and remains' there till all: '•£ ever has gone, for two. 'or three;, days;. Chill and' .over-eieTtion during convalescence should be ; avoided.; ' 'Much- harm may be done by get-, ting' about too early. Indeed this- is a common'.cauise of fatality after influeuza. ' ■-'■■.','. '•■■■ ■".; ~% ■ .:. :'.■■.-.•■ ■■ \ ; .-;; SOME PBEOATJTIONS. Influenza is •» highly infectious dis-. caso,. and the ; avoidauco of infection is difficult. ; ;Thore-are certain precautions,' .however, which if undertaken should reduce . the liability both, of ; acquiriivg: and spreading infection during an cpidbmio. firstly, in < order-to avoid iiifljieuzaj see that your rooms are.airy arid'- well ventilated at. all times. During influenza-prevalence avoid all conditions of crowding and thus reduce thd liability of coming into close contact ' with those who may be "incubating" or carrying the disease or who have ooldsi Do not unnecessarily visit those suffering from influenza.; Do, not try to work ofE" the 'disease, but stay at homo and go to bed.. Bemain in the fresh air as much as possible, and avoid to the greatest possible extent crowded places. Use gargloand nose, douche twice daily. : The following gargles and noso douches are useful: —-(1).: Add a tablespoonful of :.compound glycerine of. thymol to a tumblerful of warm water. (2), Dissolve half a teaspoonful of common' saltia;aituinberful of warm water, and add sufficient potassium or sodium permanganate to give, a light pink colpur. EARLY STAGES MOST INFECTrVE.

Secondly—when •attacked—go to bed and: 'keep warmt and stay •' there -Until the doctor 'gives permission to, get' up. .-, Staying -at work/after the first symptoms appear, is bad for .the patient and rrtay be dangerous to others. Isolation of the patient from tie .rest of.the household ■> should be practised. The early itages of attack are the most iut ectlve, ; but --U infection ' may persist; throughout the illness, and segregation should be maintained until at least the temperature. is normal. - If the patient cannot a separate room • the head pf: his bed should, if possible, be ' screened'off from the rest- of ,the apartment.' >. AU sputum discharged- from the nose should be received into cloths ; which should .be burned. -Do not cough or sneeze ivithout protecting the mouth with a handkerchief. Sterilise all- handkerchiefs by 'boiling. ■ All patient's dishes . should be: scalded,- or if possible boiled. The hands of both the attendant and patient should re!ceive. scrupulous'attention;' -Only one 'member of the household-should attend the patient. Other members of the household and the attendant should frequently gargle the throat and vdouche the nose. ' Visiting . should be pro» hibited. Food should be light and nourishing. Each case must' be treat* ed as occasion demands under the direction of the' medical, attendant. No drjig • has: yet":been proved■ to' -have any speeiflo l curative effect on influenza; though Borne may be useful in guiding its eoprse and mitigating its symptoms; The patient's recovery should be fully established before:he returns to -work.

CANNOT BE TBIIXED WITH.

If precautions as outlined are disregarded while a person is suffering from influenza the result might be fatal or other lives might be endangered. From 1926 to 1930, 461 deaths occurred' in New Zealand'from pneumonic influenza. ' Influenza,in its various-forms is not» disease to be trifled with. Early care means safety, because complications' are thus avoided. Sunshine and fresh warm air, when allowed, by.r Nature, are the best' tonics. Adequate care is essentiat to avoid 'relapse.