HEALTH NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 590, 22 July 1933, Page 10

HEALTH NOTES

ADVICE TO PARENTS NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IN REGARD TO MEASLES. DETERMINING SYMPTOMS. (Contributed by the Dept. of Health.) • An epidemie of measles is present in several districts of the Dominion, and it may-he oppoytune to repeat the adyice to parents already given with reference ,to this disease. Measles is a widely ,distributed highly communicable diisease to which' human beings are almost universally suseeptible, Few escape the disease in the long run, and since one attack almost always confers lasting immunity, people think that a child may as well get it over, Though this disease, however, is often mild and transient, «it may be exceedingly dangerous owing to complications developing. It tends to he more severe in children under six years,' of age. In older children measles is not so deadly of itself, but it lowers the resistance of the patient and opens the gate for the introduction of germs of other diseases. It is therefore necessary that care should he taken even when the illness ds apparently slight in character. Symptoms.

During an epidemie of measles, expect that a child may be sickening when it seems to be suffering from a had cold. Symptoms develop commonly about eleven- days after exposure to infection. The character istic onset is as follows: There is running at the eyes and nose, slight hoarseness, and a hard cough with increasing feverishness, and then ahout the fourth day spots begin to appear on the forehead and face, and soon spread down over the entire body. The spots collect in large red blotches and itch. Remaining at its height for a day or two, the disease, as a rule, abates gradually and at the end of a fortnight, or it may be sooner, the child is practically well. Peeling is represented by a powdery condition of the skin, hardly, however, notice- ! able. The course, however, may be | less favourahle, the disease assuming: a virulent form almost from the onset. It may give rise to complications, es_ ■ pecially bronchitis and bronchial pneu- , monia, and often prepares the way for tuberculosis. Other complications are ' disease of the middle ear, leadiing to ■ear discharge, and this may be associated with inflammatory conditions of the eyelids and a tendency to seri•ous weakness of the eyes which, un- ; less due care is taken, may become ' nermanent.

| Care and Treatment. i As soon as your child shows the first signs of .measles, if he sneezes, coughs, and his eyes are watery, keep : him out of school — lindoors — and away j from other children. Put him in bed j at once in a separate room if possible. Let there be no glaring light, either i by day or night. Keep the room com- | f ortably warm and well ventilated. ! See that the diet is light in character ! and the bowels kept well open. It is j advisable to call in the doctor at once, ; as neglect of treatment may result in serious consequences. Be sure to keep the child's eyes, ears, mouth and nostrils perfectly clean. The discharge from the nose, th'roat and ears should be carefully gathpred in clean rags and burned. Measles can easily he caught' through the disease germs the sick person spreads by talking and coughing. For this reason only the doctor and the person who is nursing the patient should enter th'e sick room. "When the skin begins to peel, oil the body or bathe the patient in warm j water. Keep the child in bed for at : least four days after the rash has subsided and the temperature normal, Do I not let him strain his eyes in poring over finely-printed books. Be careful ' as to exposure to cold until the health is completely re-established. If possible, after an attack of measles a good holiday in the country or at the | seaside is advisable. Do not let the j child spread the infection to others. Rememher that measles is considered to he most infectious from the onset of the catarrhal symptoms to the disappearance of the eruption. The peiiod of exclusion from association with others must he continued until at

least two weeks after the appearance of the rash, and until convalescence is completely established. Bear in Mind. — Measles is a naeute infection. Measles is a serious disease in children of tender years. Children suffering from this disease should be strictly isolated and carefully nursed, and every preeautien taken to prevent its spread t0 others. Medical advice should be immediately obtained and followed. There is no more unsound popular belief th'an that this disease is the natural heritage of every child. The majority of the children who contract this disease are under six years of age. If they get it later risk of severe illness is less. It is necessary, however, that care should he taken, even when the illness is apparently slight in character.