The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-28

the parent, or the doctor, or who
ever IL was who let the child go
too long before antitoxin was admin
istered. II these radical officials
would have their way. they would
make II a criminal ofTense for any
one to get dIphtherla. Because diph-
iberia IS a disease we could stamp
out completely In this country In
the space OF a few years II every
one would do his part.
Diphtheria is no longer a spectac-
ular disease in the minds of the pub
lie. II would be well if it were. Older
persons can remember when epidem-
les OF diphtheria were feared. Cases
of black diphtheria" put dread in
everyone's heart.
But even though diphtherla does
not come I'm waves any more, as In
fuenza does. It nevertheless bobs
UP continually. Diphtheria is the
second greatest cause OF death
among children from five to four
teen years of age In the state OF
Illinois. II is led only by accidents.
Diphtheria Is a treacherous dis
ease. Il Is what physicians call a
toxold disease. that Is, the diph'
liberia germ. as well as doing Its
own particular damage, develops
poison that goes through the sys-
TEN. and as a result, even though
the child recovers. damage may bs
done TO the heart or the kidneys.
and In later life the victim becomes
n semI-inyalld. or is otherwise handi.
capped. Children weakened by scar
let fever or measles are particular
ly liable to dIphtheria II exposed
10 IL.
The greatest number OF cases oc-
cur among children from FIVE to
seven years OF age, at the time they
are beginning school and coming In
contact with more people.
Dlphtheria germs enter the body
by the nose or throat and leave II In
the discharge from the nose or
throat. Hence the person caring
for a dlphtherla case should be very
careful In the handling of these dis
charges. and in the handling OF any
thing touched by the patients
hands. Mix, II touched by infect
ed hands. becomes infected and trans
mits the disease. A patient SHOULD
not be considered safe 10 mingle
with others until two cultures from
both throat and nose are declared
free from germs by a competent lab
oratory. Certain individuals. I'M
mune 10 the disease themselves, can
have germs in virulent form In the
lining OF their noses and throats,
and can transmit these germs to
susceptible persons.
Different persons vary greatly In
their susceptibility to diphtheria.
Some have a natural antitoxin In
their blood, and will not contract
dlphtheria under any circumstances.
But others can get a second case
within a few weeks after recover
ing from a first attack. so It is not
safe 10 assume. without a test, that
an attack OF diphtheria viii give
immunity.
But every single person can be
made immune to diphtheria. BY the
use OF the Schick test, doctor can
tell whether antitoxin is present or
absent in the blood of an individual
II II is present, then that person
will not contract diphtheria, even
when exposed TO 1t. If the Schick
reaction is positive, then an injec-
ton OF toxic-dntitoxin given once
a week for three weeks. will i'm
munize the person against diphthe-
ria. The toxin-antitoxin works
slowly, however, and 1t may be eight
TO twelve weeks before immunity Is
complete.
In case a child who gives posi-
tive Schick test Is exposed to diph-
iberia, that child should be kept un
der frequent observation by physi-
sian. Diphtheria can be an insid
ious disease. a child can have IL
for several days before the charac-
teristic sore throat becomes pain
full enough that the child seems really
sick. It Is much better that the
parents OF a susceptible child be
overly suspicious when diphtheria
is about than TO be worry free.
The period of incubation for dlph
iberia is from two to seven days
usually two days. If child devel.
ops diphtheria. the physician should
not delay a moment In the admins
/ tering OF antitoA.n. so as to mini
mize as much as possible the toxin
development OF the disease Speed
! has q meaning in diphtheria.
II there were a law that every
child on his third birthday should
be made immune to diphtheria, we
could stamp out this dread disease
In a very few years.
q weEtern NeWsuarer Union