Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-03-24
COUNTY HEALTH ASSOCIATION

"Just kids disease, get 'em and
get 'em over early"
In spite of the fact that measles Is
condemned by medical evidence as a
disease that may have permanently
damaging effects many persons still
maintain this Indifferent attitude.
DR.. Richard Beard, an eminent
medical authority, states that the
death rate from measels, in children
who have passed the third year, is
about one-half of one percent. At
any age, he declares measles is SER
ious disease and in infacy it is
dangerous disease.
The high death rate quoted does
not mean, however, that measles in
itself often kills. DR.. Beard specifies
that the danger lies principally in the
impairing of the membranes of air
passages which invites the entry Of
pneumonia germs. Pneumonia, always
a destructive disease, is particularly
fatal in early life. Another dangerous
complication which frequently results
from measles is inflammation of the
middle ear.
DIR. Beard cites also danger of tu-
berculosis infection. Tardy GONZALES
cense, especially If pneumonia has oc-
cured, increases the danger Of tuber-
culosis which "often takes in infancy
the very fatal form of tuberculous
meningitis, DIR. Beard states.
Two striking instances of what
measles can do are embodied in actual
stories told by public health nurse.
An eight year old boy who was slow
in school was advised to see an oc-
culist because of an imperfection in
his right eye. "Squint-eyed' the
children called him. "Were you born
this way?" asked the doctor. NO."
replied the child, ut came when /
had measles"
A sixteen-year old girl suffered in
tensely because of the ugliness of her
teeth and finally consulted dentist.
Two of the front teeth on the upper
jaw and four Of ahe molars, we're nor
NAL teeth wb1e the rest were the
little peg-shaped affairs of her baby
hood. She had never lost her first
teeth and the X.ray picture of her
Jaws showed that the usual second
set was entirely MISSING
"You must have been very, very
sick sometime between your fourth
and sixth birthday" said the dentist
to the girl
"She was" the mother answered,
she had mecsles at five and almost
died"
1T is not necessary for every one
to have measles" says DR.. Beard,
"and that despite the fact that 1t IS
an extremely contagious disease. The
infant, in particular, should be most
carefully protected from exposure to
it,"
"The period Of contagion unfortu-
nately begins early, and before the
eruption is well developed. Children
who begin to sneeze and cough and
to show Redeemed and sensitive eyes
should be isolated at once andclosely
watched. They should be put to bed
promptly and receive very early med
ical attention. Safety lies in the
avoidance of pneumonia.
while the young child is very sus-
ceptible to measles, the disease is
most prevalent between the ags of six
and nine, because it is during the
early school life that the greatest ex-
posture to infection occures. After ex-
posture it takes from twelve to four
teen days to develope the disease"
DR.. Beard has this to say Of pre-
venting measures: Parents, teashers
and school nurses must be sufficient
" impressed with the seriousness and
even the danger of measels. Childrens
and especially very young children,
must be protected from the disease.
Anyone who permits the exposure Of
to answer for. Close supervision BY