Middletown transcript., 1917-06-30
TUBERCULOSIS In CHILDREN

lUBEKCULUSlS In CHlLDkEN
Below is another paper read at tn
recent baby Campaign" by Mis-
Elizabeth Whitten, of Wilmington
nurse-in-ch charge of the Delaware STATE
tuberculosis Commission of New Castle
County.
The isolation of the germ by DR.. Kocf
in 1882 and study of the germ threw
light on the subject, and the knowledge
that tuberculosis was not inherited. but
was transmissable and if the patient
condition was recognized, in time the
patient had a good chance for recovery.
DR.. Trudea, who was tuberculosis spec
iallst, opened the first cottage sanitorium
at Saranc, in 1885. Soon afterwards anti
tuberculosis societies came into exis-
tance. Pennsylvania had the honor to
establish the first one 1892 and Delaware
the first state to sell the Red Cross
Christmas seals in this country.
DR.. Haman, OF Phipps, Baltimore,
tells US that ninety per cent. of all per-
sons have been infected by tuberculosis
and that few children at twelve years
of age have escaped infection. The
reason why everv one does not succomb
is that the resitive power is such that he
has been able to throw off the disease.
How to avoid infection and strengthen
the resitive power in both we'll and sick
is the problem of the tuberculosis
movement There are various forms of
tuberculosis, the most common bone
and pulmonary.
MODE OF INFECTION
By means of milk from tuberculosis
cattle, from house infection and by di-
rect contact with the patient. The
length of time one has been exposed to
infection and the vitality of the one ex-
posed, are very important factors.
The National Association for the study
and prevention of tuberculosis suggests
the following standard for diagnosis OF
tuberculosis in children.
l. Exposure Especially prolonged).
2. Delayed convalesence from illness.
3. Malnurition.
q. Underweight for height or loss of
weight.
s. Cough.
6. Expectoration.
7. Rise of temperature.
8 Rapid pulse
9. Hemorrhage.
10. Pain.
II. Pleursy.
IL. Dyspnea.
13. Night sweats.
IA. Digestive disturbance.
Is. Ear discharge.
One of the most important factors IN
the child from becoming tu-
bercular and in caring for the child all
ready infected is the open air school
and open window room. The open Win
dow room has nearly all the advantages
of the open air school, while fresh air
is very important, without proper su-
pervision, food, and rest, children fail
to improve. The results of these schools
have proved to the public that fresh air
is as good for the we'll child as for the
sick child, and we look forward to the
time when all children will be taught in
open window rooms.
DR.. Roche, of the Bache School, Phil
adelphia, made a study of children
taught in the ordinary school room and
those taught IN the open window room,
with the results all in favor of the open
window room. Children attend school
five hours day, often in unventilated
dusty rooms, and the tasks demanded
of them are hard enough for the well
child, and almost impossible for the del
icate child. tuberculosis is often
chronic disease and only few cases are
under supervision. When the patient
comes to the dispensary he is often far
advanced with tuberculosis. The tuber-
culosis patient is often very careless
and selfish, and takes no precautions to
keep from injecting others. In sani-
it takes constant supervision,
and for the advanced case at home it is
very difficult to have them carry out in
structions. 1t is said that every ad-
vanced case infects at least two others
during their infectious stage. The tu-
bereulosis expert tells us that the child
is the beginning and the end of the tu-
bercuIosis problem and by teaching the
children the facts of the disease will do
more to cut down the number of cases
in the next generation, than any other
factor.
The prevention of disease should be
taught not only of tuberculosis, but all
cuminable diseases.
Mothers should see that their children
are taught to breathe properly, wear
suitable clothing, and eat nourishing
food and have plenty of fresh air, day
and night.
tuberculosis is a social as we'll as a
medical problem and for its solution it
must depend on public education which
will include state and local boards of