The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-21
NEEDLESS ALARM.

The statement seems to be war
ranted that Keokuk people and Of
fcials have been unduly alarmed over
what has been generally regarded as
an outbreak of scarlet fever in the I
community. That there have been a
few cases of that disease is not to be |
denied, but with these few exceptions
the disease in evidence in Keokuk |
during the past few weeks and at the |
present time is rotheln or rubeila The
ailment is also known as German
measles but this term Is misleading
and likely to cause doubt and con-
fusion in diagnosis. In point of fact,
rubella may resemble either measles
or scarlet fever. Some cases present
symptoms very like the former, while
others resemble mild cases of scarlet
fever so closely as to deceive even the
very elect. 1t is, however, separate
and distinct disease and much less
serious than either of them
Rubella is an acute highly contag
ious disease of mild type, character
lied chiefly by a rash which may re-
semble either measles or scarlet few
er and by enlargement of the lymph
glands in the neck. 1t prevails usual
ly in the winter and spring and often
assumes the proportions of an cpl
demic Both children ana adults are
liable to attack, but it is most fire.
quently observed in children. One at
tack usually protects from another,
but not from measles or scarlet fever,
from which it differs in its shorter
course. slight fever and freedom from
sequels.
Preliminary symptoms are slight
or altogether absent. The dis
ease begins with drowsiness, slight
fever and sore throat. The eruption
appears on the first or second day and
varies considerably in its character
In some case the rash is composed
OF pale-red, scarcely elevated papnle:
(pimples). This type of the disease
is known as rubella morbilliforme
from it's resemblance to measles. II
other cases the rash is bright re;
and diffuse, like that of scarlet fever
These cases are known as rubell
searlatiniforme Rubella begins o.
the face and rapidly spreads over tn
entire body, but it fades so rapid
that the face may be clear before tn
extremities are affected. Sigh
desquamation Claking off frequent
follows, though it is often absen
In a few cases the scaling off"
quite as pronounced as after scarlf
fever. Apart from the sore thros
the catarrhal symptoms are slight.
very constant and somewhat chara
teristic feature is marked swelling
the glands at the side and back of til
neck. The duration of the diseas
is from three to five days.
Rubela is generally Distinguished
from measles by the absence
cough, sneezing, and congestion an
suffusion of the eyes. The eruptic
is paler. less elevated and appea
earlier than that of measles. tt
symptoms are in every respect milde
From scarlet fever rubella is dist
guished by the spotty character of Il
eruption, appearing first on the fac
the less intensity of the throat sym
toms, the slower, milder invasic
without vomiting, and the absence
what is known as the "strawberr,
tongue. 1t is sometimes extreme
difficult to distinguish a severe ca
of rubella from mild attack of eth
measles or scarlet fever The pre-
poets for recover. are. good. Comp
cations are rare and in most cas-
but little treatment is needed.
1t is well to be careful in guardiI