HEALTH NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1931, Page 6

HEALTH NOTES

PNEUMONIA,

(Contributed by the Department of Health.)

When a person has a severe chill folowed by a high fever, flushed face, difficult breathing, and a pain in the chest he may be suffering from pneumonia, and as this is a dangerous disease the service of a physician should he obtained at once.

CAUSE. The disease is due to a germ known as the pneumococcus. Ordinarily it is only after the body’s resisting power is reduced by some cause as exposure to the cold, lack of food, dissipation or exhaustion due to severe physical exercise, that pnuemonia developes. Very, olften it is a neglected “common cold” which prepares the body for invasion. In fact the “cold” may be incited by the same germs which ultimately become responsible for the attack of pnuemonia. The inflammation beginning in the nose or throat, if neglected extends along the air passages until the bronchial tubes and finally the lungs themselves become involved. Sputum of a reddish brown colour is abundant, whence the name “rusty sputum.”

PRECAUTIONS. A person should not expose himself to a draught when overheated.- When chilled a cup ol’ hot tea or coffee is beneficial and helps to restore the body to its normal condition. Although many persons have pneumonia and recover, the disease is sufficiently serious to demand that every reasonable effort he made to avoid it and to protect others. Anyone who is neglecting a severe cold is inviting pneumonia. Persons suffering (from severe colds or influenza who go to bed immediately and remain there until fully recovered rarely develop pneumonia. It should be remembered that especially in some forms pneumonia is a communicable disease, and it may attack nurses and those who are waiting upon the patient if precautions are not observed. Tin's is ('specially liable to happen if the room is poorly ventilated.

TREATMENT. . If pneumonia is suspected, before the arrival of the physician the nrst essential treatment is to see that the patient is put to bed in a quiet, aiy and well ventilated room;, the feet kept warm with hot water bottles. Everything should be done to make the utit-ic-nt comfortable, save him exorton and secure sufficient sleep. The bowels should he kept open. Food should be light and nourishing, largely fluid in character. The same careful hygiene of the bed and sick-room should be caried out as in infectious disease such as typhoid. Good nursing is at all times valuable in fighting disease, but at no time is it moo valuable than in pnuemonia.