Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-11-23
Scarlet Fever.

Scarlet Fever.
Scarlet fever, otherwise known as
scarlatina. is an acute, contagious, self
limited disease. one attack usually pro-
tecting the individual through life.
II belongs in a group Of infectious dis
eases along with measles, German mea-
sles and chicken-pox, the nature of the
specific poison in each OF these diseases
being as yet unknown All are trans
mitted through proximity 10 another
case without actual contact, but it is not
set known just how the poison escapes
from the body. though the almost con-
SANITY present sore throat points to the
mouth and throat as the avenues Of en-
trance Of the infection.
Mode OF infection.
The chief source Of the infection is
The patient. Infection may be carried
BY the breath, though this is doubtful. 1t
is surely conveyed by the discharges
from the nose and throat, all the excre-
lions, urine, feces and preparation. all
discharges from the ears, or glands, fol-
lowing convalescence, perhaps also by
minute particles Of the peeled skin.
Carpets and furniture Of the sick room.
body and bed clothing, toys, books, cats,
dogs, sometimes food, frequently milk
axe known sources Of infection through
contact with the above mentioned dis
charges. The poison of scarlet fever
ciings more tenaciously to clothing, up
holstery, and apartments than any other
infectious disease except tuberculosis
Transmission Of the disease through a
third party is possible but infrequent bu,
such transmission by one living in the
same house and not coming into contact
with the patient is improbable
II is thought that Scarlet Fever may be
transmitted at any time from the first
symptoms OF invasion until peeling has
been completely finished. the infective
conditions remaining after this so long as
there are open discharges from ears or
glands. or nose, therefore the necessity
for isolation OF the patient who suddenly
complains of vomiting, fever and sore
throat.
This is the time to call the family
physician and act upon his suggestions.
Even though the symptoms are merely
suspicious, it is wise to isolate the child
but to keep other children in the family
from school and contact with other chill
dren until il is certain that the illness is
rot scarlet fever.
Susceptibility.
Fortunately with this serious disease,
the susceptibility Of children to scarlet
fever is much less than that to measles,
yet it is much greater than that of adults.
Approximately, only one-half the chill
dren directly exposed to the disease take
il, the susceptibility increasing from late
infancy up to the fifth or sixth year,
when it begins to diminish.
Symptoms.
As rule the invasion of scarlet fever
IS abrupt, with vomiting, considerable
fever and sore throat. The eruption
usually shows within twelve or thirty-six
hours after the above mentioned symp-
toms appear, sometimes being delayed
until the third or even the fifth day, al
most invariably first appearing on the
neck and chest, spreading over the body
except the face.
In late years many cases of scarlet
fever have been so mild as to escape no.
tice of parents, and these are the cases
with keep the infection alive and fire.
quontly convey it to other children who
develop more severe attack.
About the eighth day the rash fades,
and peeling begins, this peeling being a
more Characteristic symptom than rash ;
when it occurs distinctly upon hands and
feet the cause has been scarlet fever no
matter what the history Of the case has
been.
While scarlet fever is a self-limited
disease, it is not possible to predict the
outcome of any case however mild it may
be. About one-half the cases die from
the poison OF the disease, complications
due to the poison being responsible for the
other fatal cases.
The mildest case may cause severe in
lection Of the middle ears, with chronic
discharge and permanent deafness, or in
Aammation of the kidneys with death
from uraemic poisoning, or permanent
damage 10 these organs. hence the neees-
sity for medical supervision Of all cases
until convslescence is absolutely estab-
lished.
Prevention.
Prompt and as complete as possible
isolation OF all cases until peeling is
completed, or until all discharges have
stopped.
Children OF other families IN contact
with known case should be kept home
from school and under observation for at
least one week, better ten days. If no
symptoms appear they are safe to return
to school,
All children in a family in which a
case occurs should be kept from school
until the patient is discharged as safe by
the family physician. Not less than four
weeks is about the proper time but the
physician decides this himself. The
The nurse should be isolated with her pa
tient and never mingle with the family
without a complete change of clothing
and disinfection Of hands, face and hair.
Antiseptic gargIes and sprays are always
advisable for nurse and other members
Of the family. All body discharges should
be disinfected and buried. After the at
tack the sick rooms is the greater source
Of danger. Through scrubbing of floors,
fresh paint on all woodwork, renewal OF
paper upon the walls or fresh whitewash
followed by fumigation will remedy much
Of this danger. Bed clothing and body
clothing should be boiled, upholstered fur
niture allowed to remain in the room
should be burned along with the mat
tress, toys, books. etc.