The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-03-16

THE PEOPLES HEALTH
BY Samuel g. PavIo. MD.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE IN
CHI DREN


There are about 100000 children
deaths annually in the United States.
Three fourths of these deaths are pre-
ventable. Generally speaking, we may
state that infant mortality throughout
the country is diminishing, although
not with the same rapidity and the same
degree among all races and classes.
For example, the mortality of white
infants decreased in Durham, N. c..
from SO to 81 per thousand births for
the last four years, while that of the
Colored infants fell from 1876 to 119.
The mortality of the Colored children
is still more than twice that of the
white.
Infant mortality can be reduced by
regular periodic examinations by ply
sicians and nurses. These should take
place monthly during the first six
the age of about three months an
months Of the infants life, every two
months during the next six months.
Three of four periodic examinations
during the second year are sufficient,
whereas after that the child should be
examined by physician and dentist
twice year until puberty.
Prevention from contagious diseases
plays an important role in reducing
infant mortality and when a child can
be immunized from a certain disease
it should be done so without delay. At
the age of three months an infant
infant should be vaccinated against
smallpox. Whooping cough is now
preventable by means of an immuniz-
ing vaccine. Every child should be
vaccinated against whooping cough at
the age of four months. Three iniec-
tons are required at two weeks inter
walls. At the age of nine months a
child should be protected by means of
an immunizing vaccine against diph-
iberia. This dreadful disease can be
prevented by means of three injections
of toxin-antitoxin at weekly intervals.
A check up should be made to find out
whether the child is still immune
against diphtheria three months later
and also annually thereafter by means
of Schick tests.
If these are positive the toxin-anti-
toxin injections should be repeated. If
a child is exposed to measles, chicken
pox, or humps it is advisable to inject
into it blood from people who have
recovered from these diseases. This
will quite frequently prevent the child
from contracting the disease or if they
do get i'll, the course of the illness is
very mild Children who live in
places where scarlet fever is prevalent
can be protected against this disease
by scarlet fever toxins and tested later
by special Dick test to find out
whether the immunization is successful.
The children death rate caused by
colds and respiratory infections is tire
mendous. 1t is important to remember
that the cause Of colds which precede
more severe infections, is exposure to
an infected person. Children should
be protected from people who are suf-
fering from colds. If children were
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recovery would be more rapid and
contact cases would be avoided. If the
tonsils and adenoids are the cause of
frequent colds they should be removed
as soon as possible.
tuberculosis is a serious cause of
children mortality which can be easily
prevented. Expectorating and cough
ing near children and kissing children
are factors in spreading the disease.
tuberculosis in children can also be
prevented by keeping tubercular patti
ents away from them.
Mental hygiene, while not directly
affecting children mortality, is as seri-
Gus as physical health. Proper habit
training, especially in eating, sleeping,
playing, resting, and relaxing are es-
sential for the well being of the child.
A harmonious home and a congenial
environment at home are important
factors in building a healthy character
and a healthy mind. Juvenile delin-
quency Is not a product of bad infu-
ence on the street, but largely of the
home in which the child lives.