The Ypsilanti daily press., 1941-12-05


only. and then only through
his column.
cause; we know the method Of
spread; we know the way to check
the disease in the individual pa.
tient; we know How To cure the
early case.
The difficulty Is q social one and
concerns the cooperation Of the
public in recognizing the disease
and applying to doctor for treat
ment.
This Is not as simple q matter
as it may seem. In the first place,
tuberculosis is very insidious dis
ease. Symptoms are not dramatic
in their approach, and at the on
set tuberculosis seldom causes any
pain.
People who have pain usually
seek medical advice for relief. but
tuberculosis causes no pain. 1t
does not make itself known sud-
denly except in a very few in
stances. Therefore II may drag on
for a long time, even when it Is
in an active state, before it is de-
tected.
Early Symptoms
Symptoms that q young person
has which indicate tuberculosis
can be shrugged off. There is an
other reason which is the feeling,
almost Of disgrace, that some
people have about tuberculosis. It
is no disgrace to have tuberculosis.
but many people feel that 1t is.
Now all Of these things are OBJ
stacles; because II is easier to
treat a case Of tuberculosis in the
early stages than after 1t has made
some headway and much precious
time is lost before the diagnosis
can be made and treatment in.
stituted. That is why the early
symptoms should be known and
why people should cooperate with
tho medical profession in submit
ting themselves TO an examination
when there are even slightly sus.
picious symptoms.
tuberculosis usually starts in q
young adult between twenty and
thirty years Of age. II has been
there a long time, but that Is the
age when it begins to show itself.
Perhaps the earliest symptom 10
severe fatigue-fatigue that IL out
Of all proportion TO the amount Of
exercise that has been taken.
Healthy fatigue is comfortabl
and it is also physiological. but th
fatigue that the tuberculosis pa
tient has has not been earned. j.
settles into every muscle Of tn,
body. This is the easiest symp
tom To shrug of. The victims sa,
they are seedy. need exercise
ought to take a trip. when wha
they really ought to do Is 60 l.
bed.
When this fatigue is accom-
panied by q little fever and fiusl
in the afternoon. you have tn
second Of the early symptoms
afternoon fever. 1t may be onl!
80 or 991s degrees but that d
enough TO require investigation
The temperature should be record
ed accurately for at least twelv'
days at regular times-8 A. NJ, ].
noon, 4 P. NJ. and 8 P. M.-befor
any decision is made that 9Th
afternoon temperature does no
mean anything"
The third early symptom Is ~
unexplained cough. 1t may not b.
productive-that Is 1t may no
bring up anything--and 1t ma
hang on winter and summer for
long time.
II everyone who had any one
these symptoms or all Of ther
would take the time and troubl
to go to their doctor for q thor
ough investigation, many could b,
cured in the early stages whicl
otherwise go on into the open adul'
case which is far more difficult u
cope with.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
S. D. c.: "My son, who will b,
eighteen years old in November
has spells Of nose bleed. Is this
serious? Does it mean high blood
pressure?"
Answer: At the age Of eighteen
it is very unlikely that high blood
pressure Is the cause. Nose bleed
Of this kind is usually due to local
conditions in the nose. usually q
scab that is covering an liberated
area underneath. This can be re-