TUBERCULOSIS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1932, Page 8

TUBERCULOSIS

EARLY. TREATMENT. VALUE OF SANATORIA. (Contributed by the Department of '• Health). Early recognition of disease is of" : vital importance for successful treatment. In cancer for instance this is s-f: great: importance and the same applies to'tuberculosis. This disease in a -large majority of cases can be arrested or cured provided it is recognised early, but if it is not discover- 1 ed''until the disease is advanced the chances of curing it are greatly "lessened. As soon as a person is recognised to be suffering from tuberculosis' by a doctor he should make every effort possible to go to- a sanatorium.' Unfortunately by omitting to" seek * this treatment many idelay their recov- r ery and* even endanger, through ignorance and neglect, the'lives of others.'-At-a sanatorium a patient will not only get the advantages of excellent climatic conditions, but what is even'more important, constant ' skilled medical supervision and careftil instruction’ahfl training from specialists and nurses on how to conduct his future life when . 'iving at home. Hippocrates hundreds jpf years ago realised that a young man who was' weak, whose pale and hollow cheeks showed a hectic flush, and ..whose gaunt form was shaken by a racking cough was in no immediate danger of dying. He saw that such a man wou'd die slowly unless he went to the hills beyond the city andrested in the sunshine. *To-day physicians call the same condition tuberculosis and recommend the same treatment Hippocrates prescribed. ■ EARLY SYMPTOMS. v One of the most suspicious' symptom, l is an unusual sense of fatigue or . weariness coming on without any good reason. This may often he re garded by the patient’s family ns dm to “laziness” or “nervous prostration” or it may be ascribed to some unexplained ‘condition- Persistent fatigm or weakness-is a' suspicions early svmptorrf. Lohg continued hoarsenes which is not relieved by the usual treatment is very suspicious. A common early symptom is a cough showing usually but Hot always on arising in the morning and whi r h does not disappear with thfe ordinary'treatment Steady ’and unaccountable loss of weight -and appetite is- another "i important sign- which, should warn one of poss'hle'tiUercu’osis. : ‘ '- ' "Frequently -the disease begins with a slight spitting of blood'; which- mav not be followed for a long time wf thirty. other ' suspicious ..symptoms;- Unusual' sweating at night -may at" times bp thfe first indication of the disease; though this" symptom is ordinarily preceded by others;' pain •; .in '■ the chest, esnecial’y in the region of the shoulder should-he carefully investigated as the first -evide of a r 'tuberculosis pleurisy 'often -begins at the top 'of the lung- <• •

EARLY TREATMENT. Any or all the symptoms described are suspicious, and should serve a warning to consult an experienced physician at once. : As already emphasised" early and light ‘ cases of tuberculosis are usually curable. The earlier and milder they are the moreeasily and frequently - are they c-uredc More advanced cases, with careful and prolonged treatment yield a fair per-centage-of recoveries, and it is worth remembering that a certain number of very advanced and apparently hopeless cases do at times recover; However bad the- outlook, therefoie, a sufferer should not-give un hope but start at once to make the best fight he can.

In all cases his prospect of getting well depends larglv upon himself, upon the eai’ly recognition- of the disease; sanatorium treatment, and upon his grit and determination to carfv out the necessary treatment- A; brave and cheerful patient with an advanced case generally stands a better chance;of recovery than a weak and despondent one m the earlier stages-of-the-disease; To gef well, however', does not mean, the taking 'of much medicine. There; is no medicine which of itself will cuntuberculosis. Nothing has done more harm In this disease than the habit of taking patent medicine', which are falsely advertised to cure consumption. , A doctor, if he finds it necessary* may prescribe some •medicines for a sufferer to meet certain symptoms or conr ditions," and these will be helpful, but no drugs of any kind should be .taken until they are prescribed by a doctor.

Remember: —Such symptoms as described demand immediate medical advice. In sanatorium tre-'tment there is available a proved and valuable >oeans of combatting tuberculosis inaction.