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Preventable Diseases of Children: Hence

PREVENTABLE DISEASES OF CHILDREN Diphtheria. - This disease often runs a very mild course. A child may hardly feel sick enough to take to its bed. Such cases may, and often do, give other children the form that kills. Hence every case of fever with sore throat in children should be looked on with suspicion. Look out especially for nasal diphtheria marked by a thin watery discharge from the nose which irritates the nostrils and may cause bleeding from the nose and sores about the nostrils and upper lip. Any hoarseness or thickness of the voice should suggest an examination of the throat. If the tonsils, the palate and surrounding mucous membrane are inflamed and swollen, and particularly if there are white patches in any part of the throat, have a culture taken and tested for diphtheria.

Scarlet Fever. - A sudden attack of vomiting, redness of the throat, headache and fever suggests scarlet fever. The rash appears on the first, or more often the second day and extends from the back of the neck to the chest and thence all over the body. It is usually uniformly scattered but may be patchy. The color is a characteristic deep red which may become more livid, approaching purple. A very characteristic sign is a pale ring about the mouth. The eruption lasts from three to five days and fades. Peeling follows in the shape of scales and persists for several weeks.

Measles. The early symptoms are those of a feverish cold. Observe especially that the eyes are red and sensitive to the light. There is a discharge from the nose, sneezing and a dry hacking cough. Look for Koplik's sign, i. e., minute, pearly white blisters on the inside membrane of the mouth near the molar teeth. This is a sure sign. But observe that these may be few in number and not surrounded by any inflammation.

Hence be sure to examine the patient carefully in a good light. The rash comes out, the third or fourth day, first on the forehead and face and then over the front and down the sides. As the red spots increase in number they form distinct crescentshaped figures composed of papules just raised above the skin. In severe cases the color may deepen to purple. The rash lasts four or five days, then fades and is followed by peeling. The disease is highly contagious from the beginning of the symptoms.

Whooping Cough. - A persistent paroxysmal cough frequently accompanied by vomiting is indicative of whooping cough, whether or not there is any distinct whoop. But as a rule, whooping cough comes in distinct spasms. During these the face is puffed and reddened, the eyes congested and watery, and the characteristic whooping sound is made. A paroxysm is often followed by vomiting.

Mumps. - Any swelling of the glands behind the angle of the jaw should suggest mumps. The swelling extends just in front, just behind and below the ear and is extremely painful. A very frequent symptom is swelling inside the mouth and opposite the second molar tooth.

Smallpox. The first symptoms are severe headache, backache, rapid rise of temperature and vomiting. The eruption appears about the third day.

Then the fever subsides and the patient sometimes feels perfectly well. In mild cases a child may be able to play or return to school. The symptoms in mild cases are very similar to chickenpox. But observe that smallpox cannot occur if a child has been successfully vaccinated. If not, it is best to be on the safe side and promptly call a physician.

Chickenpox. The symptoms are those of a cold in the head with a slight fever. The characteristic rash breaks out the first or second day in the form of small blisters. A few of these may be seen about the roots of the hair, but they occur mostly on the body. These soon break and produce a drying scab.

Scabies (Itch). - Small pimples are noticed on the back of the hands and especially the spaces between the fingers or on the arms or whole body. These are caused by an animal parasite which burrows in the skin. They are seldom seen on the face or scalp.

Itching and an irresistible desire to scratch are the principal symptoms.

These become more intense when the patient stands near a hot fire or about the time of going to bed at night.

Pediculosis (Lice). - Intense itching and scratching of the hair and scalp indications of vermin.

Constant scratching may cause inare POUL ZAIR HEUMO POTTS SEAS TUBERCULOUS COL DIRTY MILK OLARRHE ALZ DISEASES OF THALAIA POOR CARE MEASLES SCARLETS FEVER DIPHTHER ST A LITT Feld Protect your baby from the preventable perils surrounding it. flammation of the scalp and skin of the neck. Look for the eggs (nits) which are always stuck on to the hair and not readily brushed off.

Ringworm.-All eruptions of the skin in the form of circles or rings should be examined by a physician for ringworm. This is a vegetable parasitic skin disease which is communicable.

Impetigo. This is a contagious disease which is often spread by towels, toys and other things handled by children. It is characterized by large or small pustules (boils) or festers upon the skin. These usually appear on the face, neck or hands and occasionally upon the scalp. INFANTILE PARALYSIS (ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS) This is a communicable disease which has become epidemic in recent years and seems to be spreading rapidly throughout the United States. It is due to a germ which attacks the spinal cord and to a less extent the brain. It injures and destroys the tissues, and causes temporary or permanent paralysis of the muscles. It attacks chiefly young children during the first year of teething, but may also be communicated to older children, and adults are not exempt.

Hence the name infantile paralysis is somewhat misleading. The nature and source of this disease were formerly obscure, but recently Flexner has proved it to have all the characteristics of a germ disease and early in 1913 he announced that the specific germ by which it is caused has been isolated.

If the germs of this disease become as widespread as those of measles or scarlet fever, the result will be appalling. Not only is the death rate high, but the after effects, in about three-fourths of all cases, are more or less severe permanent paralysis of the arms or legs, or other parts of the body. About 20,000 cases have been reported in the last few years in the United States, with 5,000 deaths and upwards of 15,000 children crippled. The death rate varies in different localities from 5 per cent to 20 per cent. The disease is most prevalent in July, August and September. In respect to its permanent after effects it is one of the saddest of all diseases.