The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-10-11
GUARD AGAINST
WHOOPINC COUGH
Health Officer Gives Instruction For
Prevention Of Spread Of
This Epidemic

With an epidemic OF whooping
cough prevalent about the city, the
following article from the State
Health Officer, p. b. Jenkins, will be
OF more than usual interest:
"Whooping cough Is a dangerous
disease Notwithstanding the common
belief that il is one of the harmless
diseases of childhood which a child
should take ana be done with" whiie
he is young. A child may take" it
while young, but the very large num-
Der of deaths and permanent serious
after effects are proof that he is not
done with II" as soon as he acne
symptoms disappear,
In the U. s. Registration Area there
were lis deaths per 100000 popula-
ton from ~whooping cough IN one
year. Last year in South Dakota there
were more deaths Of children under
five years OF age from whooping
cough than from tuberculosis, dipth-
eria, scarlet fever or measles. But
that is not all. Every doctor has
seen the permanent damage to the
heart, lungs, kidneys and occasionally
to the brain resulting from severe
cases of whooping cough Frequently
during the acute stage of the disease,
due to the weakened CONDITION of
the bronchial tubes. pneumonia de-
velops and causes death And often
after recovery from whipping cough
has occurred, the child's vitality and
resisting power are so lowered that
he contracts tuberculosis which Don
cuts short the young life
Most Of the deaths from whooping
cough occur in children under the age
of five years, and statistics show that
of the children under year of age
who contract the disease, twenty-five
out Of every hundred die This is
sufficient proof that the disease is
not more serious for adults than for
young children, as is generally sup
posed. The older the child and the
Detter his general physical condition,
the better his chance OF withstanding
the disease
IL is not necessary that any child
should have whooping cough. II is
a contagious disease and c2h be pre-
vented by the use of proper means.
Is not the life Of the child too great
a price to pay for some ones %inexcus-
able ignorance, carelessness or de-
liberate neglect? Still, thousands of
childien pay yearly with their lives
for such neglect and lack of know
ledge. The most contagious period
of whooping cough Is during the first
two weeks. The saliva scattered by
the coughing, sneezing and talking
Of the patient and ON pencils, toys,
eating utensils and other objects
ara nat into Tho rn..,h a-l H.
sccretions from nose and throat are
the most dangerous means of trans
uniting infection to others.
1t is difficult to recognize the dis
ease until the "whoop' develops, but
If your child shows symptoms of per-
sistent cough, with watery eyes and
d~ischargiGg nose, especially when ac-
Compan!ed by slight fever, you should
keep him away from other children
and consult your family doctor. Every
case of w~hCoping cough in order that
the patient may have proper treat-
ment and that others be protected
should have prompt medical attention
and should be reported Immediately
to the city or county health officer.
Ne or under any circumstances al
low a child suffering with whooping
cough to go to school church or Sun
day School, picture show or any other
place where he might expose others
10 the disease. Use every mean to
protect others from your child who
may have w%hooping cough and do all
in our power to induce others to do
likewise.
81 may have heard OF whooping
cough vaccine. 1t is yet in the ex-
lerlmen al stage. In New York City
where much work has been done with
it, immunity has been secured in Is
out OF 10 cases where perfectly fresh
vaccine was used, and the immunity
continued for six months. In some
cases the vaccine has proven benef-
cial also in the treatment of whoop-
ing cough"