The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-24

the disease by DR.. Earle G. Brown, city
health officer. is especially important.
DIR Browns article is the twelfth of a
series written for The State journal.
BY EARLE G. BROWN, NJ. D.
At the present time, diphtheria and
scarlet fever are the two most COM
mon communicable diseases in the
city. During the first six months of
the year, 12S cases of scarlet fever
were reported, two resulting fatally,
both adults. During July, but six
cases were reported, which is the least
number for any one single month of
the year During the month of Aug
ust, twenty-five cases were reported,
and from the number reported so far
since the first of September, it would
seem that there will be as many cases.
if not more this fall and winter as
there were for the fall and winter of
1920-21.
Scarlet Fever Is Contagious.
Scarlet fever is an acute contasious
disease, chara cterized usually by sud
den onset, nausea and vomiting, fever
and eruption. One attack usually
protects the individual thru life but
second and third attacks are known
The disease occurs most frequently
in the autumn and winter. 1t was
first fully recognized and described as
early as 1860.
Not every person is susceptible to
the disease, for only 2S per cent of
children and per cent of adults that
are exposed become infected. great
majority of the cases occur under 10
years of age. A great many cases in
the past year have been very mild,
but the mild cases are just as danger
Gus as the severe types. The mode of
entrance of the germ into the body is
not definitely known, but is probably
thru the throat.
Scarlet fever ranks third as to the
degree of infectiousness. 1t may be
contracted by direct contact; dissemi-
mated by means of food milk. etc;
by means of a third person. toys,
clothes, books; cats, dogs and other
domestic animals have been known to
spread the disease.
Danger to Community.
The bulletin of the Wisconsin state
board of health says: "That the dan
ger in scarlet fever to the community
does not rest in the well marked type
of the disease as it commonly occurs
beginning with the vomiting and char
acterized by high fever, eruption, sore
throat, discharge from the nose and
the so-called strawberry tongue. Such
cases are easily recognized by the laity
and prompt measures for quarantine
are effective
Scarlet fever varies more in inten-
sity than any other of the eruptive
diseases. This is the reason why the
disease is so prevalent, so many cases
are not recognized and are permitted
to go about and infect others. In the
slight cases, the child may not be
sick, only indisposed; the rash may
fade in six to twelve hours; the sore
throat may be SO light as to escape
notice. Physicians are not usually
called for such cases, especially if the
scarlet fever and they may have to
be Guaranteed. One such case came
to the attention of the health depart
ment during the past year. After the
home was quarantined, the mother
said she would never be satisfied that
the child had scarlet fever unless she
developed complications. Subsequent
history shows that the little patient
developed very severe complications
but does not state whether the mother
was satisfied. 1t is presumed that she
was.
The eruption usually appears the
second to the fourth day and lasts four
to six days, in mild cases, a much
shorter time. First, at the warm parts
of the body, in the arm pits, along the
collarbone, in the groin and around
the waist. 1t then spreads to other
parts of the body. The eruption is
first. small red spots the size Of a pin
suit IS an intense, diffuse. lobster col
ored eruption. The tongue swells, is
red on the tip and edges and shows
swollen red sopts, which accounts for
the name, Strawberry tongue"
The stage of desquamation, or seal
ing, may last several weeks. usually
starting first on the face. The scales
are bran like in character, except on
the hands and feet, where complete
casts are sometime shed.
A Dangerous Disease.
The complications of scarlet fever
are exceedingly dangerous. Some au-
thorities state the heart is badly dam
aged in as high as 35 per cent of cases.
n noted medical authority states:
After rheumatism. scarlatina is the
most frequent cause of Endorcarditis."
Endocarditis is an Inflammation Of
the lining of the heart.
Inflammation of the kidney Is rather
common, depending on the severity of
the epidemic. Inflammation of the
middle ear may occur either before
or after desquamation and is quite
frequent IN early life.
Depending upon the severity Of the
epidemic, the mortality ranges be-
tween 2. and 40 per cent. This does
not take into consideration the great
number who are OhvSicalIy disabled