The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-05-01
SKIN DISORDERS FATAL TO BABIES
Isolation Precauti0n Ad- vised--Visiting Nurses
 Reduce Hartford Cases

"N0, you can't come near the now baby now. Walt till those sores on your face are we'll" Ray mond and Charles stood, disap- pointed, in tho doorway. The new brother blinked in his padded box made by the father and the nurse by the side of his mothers bed. The doctor had diagnosed the sores on tho boys faces as im- petigo, . skin disease which may not be so harmful to older children but which Is dangerous to newborn babies and which Is easily carried from person to erson. Raymond and Charles were not 600 discour- nged, however, for even If they oould not touch tho new bnby's hand. things were better than they had been.
 Three months ago both of them had been very sick with scarlet fever. Every day the visiting nurse had como to bathe them, irrigatc their throats and report their con- ditlon to the doctor. One day tho doctor had to lance Charles car. All this time they could sec very little of their mother and nothing at all Of their two-year-oid sister.
 As the mother lay in bed now she thought with relief that those days of isolation precautions were over. Her days of preparation for the new baby were over, too; a healthy baby was by her side. In the kitchen q housekceper whom the nurse had helped the father to find was getting dinner. The old injury which had reopened slightly following the birth of tho baby had been found by the nurse, reported to the doctor and re- paired. The nurse had taught the housokeepor to cleanse and dress the impctigo sores and with prop little further trouble. She could relax and rest, feeling that tho months of Illness and difficulty re- qulring the skill of doctor and nurse and all her own strength were past. Soon the nurse would come to bathe her and the baby. Raymond and Charles had been comparatively easy children to caro for even when they wero feverlsh and in pain. But many children are taught to fear the doctor and the nurse. often a child refuses a necessary treatment because while still in health he has been told that the nurse will "get him" if he misbehaves. Later, whenfthe child Is III, treatments which may be necessary to save his life con be given only by doctor or nurse at the cost of struggle which may retard his recovery and which will add to his fear of new situations md of strangers
 Last year fewer small babies died In Hartford than previously. At some future time Hartford should also be able to say that fewer babies and children become sick. Meanwhile, 1t Is part of the job of tho visiting nurse to supple ment medical care by skilled nurs- ing care md to teach as much as possible Of this technique to Hart ford parents.
 Change in Many Situations
 No doubt you have seen her as you go to your office in the morn ing or step out to order the days groceries---tho visiting nurse with her oblong black bag. You may have wondered to what home she was going and whether her pa- tient was very i'll. If you happen to see her at about o'clock you can be sure she is on her way to the bedside of man, woman or child who needs her badly. Probably the call for nursing care has come in the night or very early morning. has been received by a special switchboard operator and given to the nurse in the dis trict when she arrived for duty at 8 o'clock. She had telephoned the doctor for orders. planned her day's work and is on her way to the bedside of her sickest patient.
 This morning the chapces are that her patient has the "hu". Wis., itlng Nurse association records of patients receiving bedside care over a brief acute period show influenza heading the list of diagnoses for very month but one from the list of September. 1883. until the pres ent date. If you have harbored this illness in your own family dur ing these past months you know that not one person alone in your family has been m but probably several members and perhaps the entire household. Frequently the visiting nurse finds not one patient but a hospital ward waiting her ring at the doOrbclI.
 A variety Of situations are part of the picture. Sometimes the family has not called their doctor and the nurse must summon him in hurry.