South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-09-28
PUBLIC HEALTH
A Series of Articles by DR..
Charles S. Bosenbury, Sec
rotary South Bend Board
of Health.
MEASLES AND WHOOPING
COIGH.

There is a widespread notion that
measles ana whooping cough are
mild, unimpOrtant diseases of child
hood. Some there are who even be-
lieve il best to expose their children
TO these diseases and have them
over.
For the past II years the death
rate from measles and whOOping
cough ran practically parallel with
that of scarlet fever. In the regis
tration area of the United States
representing about So per cent of
the total populatiOn) for 1912 there
were 5,619 deaths from whOOping
cought, 4.240 from measles and 4,03S
from scarlet fever.
Measles and whooping cough are
not alone to be avoided because they
are so often fatal but they leave after
effects and complications which are
in themselves dangerous, as tubercu-
lOsis. pneumonia ear diseases. heart
and kidney disease and asthma
Last spring the health deparf h1e nj
made an effort TO reduce the number
of cases of measles and whOOping
cough. II is not necessary to quar-
antine the household but it is desir-
able TO isolate the patient from sus-
ceptible children. II must be ad-
mitted that the attempt was not an
unqualified success. Many cases were
not reported. These diseases are
usually considered so unimpOrtant
that physicians are rarely called
unless there is some complication.
Many do not know that in case there
is no attending physician it is the duty
of the parents TO report to the health
department. This is the state law and
not "A local requirement. In many
instances where warning cards were
placed no attention was paid to them.
The health department has gone as
far as il can when it places the card
upon the house and advises the pub
lie of the nature and danger of the
illness therein. If parents knowingly
and willingly visit, with their suscept-
ible children. the home where warn
ing guarantees have been esta blish-
ed and their children become i'll, they
have only themselves to blame. And,
if parents permit children with
measles and whooping cough to
mingle with other children they are
guilty of spreading these diseases.
Particular care should be exercised
not TO expose young children under
five years of age, as over go per cent
Of the fatal cases occur in this pc
Rod
The prevention OF measles is diff
cult enough because it is one of the
diseases and it is most contagious
before the eruption appears. School
children therefore should be exam
ined every morning before they go to
school and if they show signs of a
cold infection of the eyes, running
of the nose, cough or sore throat,
they should be kept at home or sent
home if found i'll by the teacher.
The prevention of whOoping cough
is also q difficult task. 1t is conta-
rious before as we'll as after the ap-
pearance of the whoop. Patients with
whooping cough should not be con-
fined to the house but should be per-
mitted to go about. in the open air.
provided they do not come in contact
with other children.
When the nature of these suppOs
eddy simple diseases becomes better
known and the difficulty experienced
in controlling and preventing them
better understood, ii will be possible
to secure more intelligent and willing
cooperation on the part Of the public.
It is only by this means that any re-
ductiOn in the number of measles and
cough cases can be accom-
plished.
Every illness in childhood should be
treated with suspicion; it may later
prove contagious. 1t is not always
possible TO make a positive diagnosis
from the early symptoms, in fact,
most of the contagious diseases are
ushered in by the same symptoms.
The safety first rule is this: Keep
we'll children away from those who
are i'll. or, at least, until il is def
nitely known they suffer from non
communicable disease.