Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-05-17
County Nurse Tells of
Measles and Its Care
MEASLES, IT'S SYMPTOMS, PRE-
VENTIoN AND WAYS TO CON-
TRoL THE DISEASE

Measles is a nlSnly COMMUNICATIVE
disease. Early symptoms simulate a
cold in the head, usually harsh
cough, sore. or sensitive eyes with few
er. After three or four days and some
| times as late as a week, a rash APP
pears upon the forehead, face, body
and limbs. The rash disappears in a
few days Marked fever is frequently
present in measles during the early
symptoms and before the rash APP
pears. This is a brief description of a
typical case of measles, a disease fre-
quently regarded lightly by many par
ents and which is commonly consid-
cred to be one of the inevitable ills Of
childhood It should always be looked
upon as a serious illness and one to
be avoided when possible
One of the dangers in measles is
due 10 complications. The bronchitis
that occurs with measles may result
IN pneumonia Measles may leave deaf
ears AID weakened eycs It may pave
the gay to tuberculosis and in fact
many other complications moro or
less erious. A number Of cases die
from the severity Of the infection it
self. During the year 1920, there were
221 deaths in Wisconsin from meas
les; in 1921, there were Al deaths and
in 1922, 40 deaths. AS the presence Of
measles greatly predominates some
years over others, there is a varying
death rate. The majority of deaths are
from a complicating pneumonia and
about 80 per cent Of them are in chill
dren under five years of age: The fact
that the number of deaths in proper
ton to the number of cases is lower
than in some of the other communi-
cable diseases doubtless gives rise to
the impression that measles is a rela-
lively harmless trouble which all chill
dren must have, but, as the figures
quoted show, it is a serious risk not
alone because of the number of deaths
but because of the complicating trou-
bles which may follow.
Measles is spread by the secretions
from the nose and throat It is highly
communicable from the very begin
ming Of the catarrhal symptoms
The measles organism does not last
long outside the body Experiments,
however, show that it remains active
for at least a day or two. There is a
possibility that a well person intim-
ately associated with case of meas
les may carry the ,contagion, but this
is not a usual manner of its transmits
sion.
L. Cases must be reported to local
health officers within twenty-four
hours.
2. Conspicuous placard on house
and isolation of patient for fourteen
days from the time the case is report
ed to the local health officer.
3. Children who have measles are
not permitted to leave the premises,
and all children other than members
of the family shall not enter or re-
main upon the premises while the
home is placarded Children who have
had measles may attend school Well
children in the family who have not
had measles may return to school
after fourteen days from the date Of
last exposure, dating such exposure
from the beginning of the rash in the
last case to which the person was ex-
posed.
4. There are no restrictions on the
adult members of the family.
5. Thorough disinfection (not fumi
gation) of the infected rooms and
contents after death or recovery and
before placard is removed-Ann
Christman, County Nurse.