The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-03-19
CATCHING DISEASES ARE
AMONG CHILDREN
Mothers Do Not Realize Serious
ness of Spread In Many Cases

Over half of the sickness from the
catching" diseases reported to the
State Department of Health, occurs
among young children and is due to
measles, mumps, chickenpox, whoop-
ing cough, scarle fever and other So
called children's diseases. Speaking of
the prevalence and seriousness of such
diseases, DR.. R. H. Riley, Director Of
the State Department of Health, said:
"Diphtheria still figures in the total,
but it plays less important part than
it did before so many parents realized
that children can be protected against
the disease and began taking their
babies and their other young children
not prviously protected-either to
their own doctor or to the Health De-
partment clinics, to be immunized
against that dreaded enemy.
NEARLY all mothers realize the SER
iousness of diphtheria, and are willing
to take steps to have their children
protected against this particular dis
ease. But many do not realize the ser
iousness Of the other Catching dis
eases and they do not safeguard either
their own or their neighbours children,
as carefully as they might, against
them.
"The idea that children's diseases
don't amount to very much and that all
of the children in the family may as
well have them, at the same time, and
have it over has been proven to be a
great mistake. Many of these diseases
are especially hard on very young
children. Both younger and older chill
dren need to be protected, at all times,
from needless exposure to infectious
or Catching diseases. There is al
ways danger, of serious after-effects,
even from very light cases. Deafness
and eye trouble in later life, may often
be traced to some inefectious disease
in childhood. Kidney diseases and dam
aged hearts often have their begin
nings in the same way.
During the last two months, 729
cases of scarlet fever have been re-
ported in the State, 268 from Baltimore
City and 461 from the counties. There
were many additional cases that were
not recognized as scarlet fever and it
was not considered necessary to call
in the family doctor. After a few days
at home the children were sent back
to school where they scattered their
germs among their schoolmates.
"a record is kept of all reported
cases of scarlet fever. Analysis Of the
records that have been kept over a
period of years, shows that some Of
the most serious outbreaks that have
occurred in schools or in neighbor-
hoods, have been traced to missed
cases-cases that were too light to call
a doctor.
"Nearly all of the children's diseases
begin with digestive upset or with
symptoms closely resembling those of
the common cold. Mothers can help
greatly to protect their own children
from the catching diseases and to
prevent the spread of such diseases to
others. Here are some of the things
they can-and should do:
"Avoid exposing the children to any
Catching disease. Don't take them to
see other children that are sick.
"Put the children who develop sore
threats, colds or nausea, accompanied
by suspicious symptoms, to bed, in a
room by themselves, if possible. Send
for your doctor and follow his adj
vice."