HEALTH NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 696, 22 June 1929, Page 29

HEALTH NOTES

COMMON COLD PREVENTION AND TREATMENT (Contributed by the Department of Health.) There are two kinds of common colds —the cold caught from other people and the one contracted even though colds are not prevalent In the population. People who have adenoids or diseased tonsils or are run down are likely to have either kind. Very few colds would develop into serious illness if the person who has the cold were wise enough to take proper care of himself the first day or two. Rest In bed if possible, or at least indoors, is advisable, if the victim feels weak, as weakness may be a sign of influenza. A laxative should be taken. Plenty of cold water should be taken and a light amount of simple, nourishing food. Breathing steam or using a salt-water nasal douche, if the doctor advises it, may relieve the “stopped-up” feeling. At night before going to bed a hot bath, or at least a hot footbath, is recommended. After drying, the sufferer should be covered up in bed with extra blankets, so as to "sweat the cold out of the system.” A hot drink, such as

| lemon, assists perspiration. When, j j besides the general symptoms of a I cold, fever occurs and the back of the legs ache badly, probably influenza is indicated, and a doctor’s advice should be immediately sought. The risks of neglected colds are two-fold, to the individual and to the community at large. In the first place there is a considerable dangei of the cold producing more serious infections, such as bronchitis, laryngitis and broncho-pneumonia. Secondly, during the course of the condition by kissing, sneezing, coughing and spitting, there occurs an indiscriminate scattering of saliva and nasal and bronchial mucus. This results in an interchange of mouth and throat bacteria of a dangerous nature among the population, and the consequent increase of the “carrier” problem. Protection of Children Common colds are frequently fol- i lowed by pneumonia. This is particularly true in very young children. Now the question comes, what can be done to protect these children? Since all colds, coughs and other diseases of the air passages are catching, it follows that the same precautions against infection should be followed with these common disorders, as with the more serious disorders. While It is. difficult to prevent colds entirely ' there are certain things which should

always be done. It is important to keep the germs of this disease from getting into the mouth and nose. Older children can be taught to wash t he hands carefully immediately before eating, and to keep their hands and all things which may have been handled by others away from the mouth and nose. Infants, of course, will put their hands into their mouths, but it is not necessary to give them much handled articles. Using one’s own handkerchief to wipe a baby’s nose is dangerous, as is the practice of some mothers of tasting the baby’s food, then handing the child the same spoon. It is important to keep the rooms of the house at a moderate temperature. Air in the winter time is much drier than at other seasons, especially if the rooms are kept too warm, and is more irritating to the membranes of the air passages. Babies and young children need sunlight as well as older people. Do not keep a well child indoors just because it is cold out of doors. Protect the baby well and put him out where he will get the sunlight. If a child has a cold it is safest to keep him in bed for a few days until the acute stage is past. Keep all dishes and other articles used by the patient separate, and boil or otherwise disinfect them before their use by others. In other words, colds should be considered contagious, and the same sort of care taken as with epidemic diseases. General Advice ! Keep the body built up by eating i nourishing food, observing regulai j sleeping hours, exercising outdoors ir j fhe sunshine, and drinking plenty o 1 | w-ater daily. Train the skin to stant changes in temperature by frequeni i I bathing. Wear sensible clothing

Breathe through the nose. Air is filtered as it passes along the nasal 1 passages on its way to the lungs. See t a doctor if difficulty of breathing - through the nose is experienced. Live > and work in well ventilated rooms. r Finally, if you have a cold see that you r do not convey it to others by personal [ neglect of simple precautionary r measures, for there is no reason why a ; cold should spread through a home if ; these measures are observed. The i individual who coughs and sneers 3 ; over the other occupants in a tram or n : place of public gathering is deliberI 1 ately spreading infection and endan--3 gering the health of the community.