DIPHTHERIA

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1926, Page 1

DIPHTHERIA

SOME UNUSUAL FEATURES. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. GJSBORNE, May 26. Some unusual features in connection with the death of a twenty-one months’ old infant from diphtheria were revealed at the inquest to-day. It was stated in evidence that the child apparently had a cold, .and was being treated for this by its parents. She gave no indications of suffering pain or of having a sore throat, and apparently had no difficulty in swallowing food up to within twelve hours of death, and there was no white marks to bo seen in the child’s throat, as is usually the case in diphtheric infection. The Coroner, Mr Levy, S.M., inquired of Dr Bowie, whether the parents would know if the child was diphtheretically infected when there was no evidence of this in the child’s throat, and in view of the fact that another child in the -family was suffering from a cold. Dr Bowie explained that ho could quite understand the parents being deceived that the child had only a cold, as it was a peculiar type of diphtheria, ’which was now prevailing and in such cases acute symptoms appeared only for a few hours before death. He knew of one case where a child had been treated for four days for whooping cough, and the diphtheria symptoms appeared only four or live hours before death would have ensued, and the child had to ho operated on to remove a blockage in the throat. In such eases, he said, medical advice should he summoned immediately.

The Coroner returned a verdict that (he cause of death was due to diphtheria infection. He said ho would like the press to note the fact of the peculiar type of diphtheria now prevailing, and. no doubt, the Health Department will stress tho importance of parents .summoning medical advice immediately. Interviewed by a '‘Times” repre. sentativc, Dr Bowie stated tliat the first symptoms of the peculiar type of diphtheria he referred to were similar tn those of a cold, accompanied by a slight feverishness, and lack of vitality. Acute symptoms did not become manifest, in some cases, until some hours before death; probably four or five hours; but if medical attention was summoned immediately, an operation could save the sufferer’s life.