Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-13
Rheumatic
Fever Serious
Problem
Canada and North u. S.
= Face II in Winter
BY LOGAN CLENDENING, VI. ID.

serious hedlth problems IN WIN
ter, probably rivalling pneu-
monia and the u espiratory
infections.
AS one goes South ii is OF less
frequency and severity.
The reason that rheumatic
fever is of such great impor-
lance lies not in the fact that II
is in self such a deadly disease,
but on account OF the compllca-
tons in the heart.
About half of all organic heart
disease I'm middle age can be
traced to an attack OF rheumatic
fever IN childhood and youth.
While we know rheumatic
fever is due to a germ. this germ
has not been identified and We
have no preventive serum.
We must depend upon at
tempts 10 control il through
such factors as protectio o.
against climatic conditions and
poor housing
THE influence of climate is
L we'll shown by the study
made by Drs. Paul and Dixon
of rheumatic fever on different
Indian reservations IN the United
States and Canada
Dividing these reservations
into three groups depending on
their geographic locations We
find that in the northern group
rheumatic heart diseases &C.
Cured at the rate of 9 per cent.
I'm the middle and more tenn
rate climate il occurred at
Oe rate OF about 4 per cent and
in mild and southern climates II
occurred AZ the rate OF less than
! per cent
Other factors which enter
into the prevalence Of rheumatic
fever are housing clothing and
protection against cold and
damp weather.
Still another which was found
10 be very important IN many
parts of the country was the
presence Of protective foods IN
the dietary
These protective vItamln-
containing foods milk eggs.
fresh vegetables and fruits the
two latter particularly are very
likely 10 be- neglected IN the
household winch IS on limited
budget
Infected tonsils and 20 Ger
tam extent teeth. also are found
TO be CauSatiyc factors.
As TO treatment il is not
~ possible 70 place too much
inSistencc on the enjoyment of
rest for a long period after the
attack has subsidized
In the acute period the infcc-
ton attacks the joints causing
fever, sweating and pam.
When TINS is over. the patient
feels 20 good that nc usually
wants 10 get up. but wise care
demands that these patients
should spend at least six weeks
IN bed after the subsistence OF
all Joint symptoms.
This was once dramatically
presented 10 me IN my practice
IN the case OF two children
whose families lived next door
10 each other
Both children We're attacked
almost at the same time with
Rheumatic fever
Both had a mild course and
~ both cases the families We're
advised 10 keep the children IN
bed for the minImal period Of
slN weeks.
ONE family was impressed
" with the necessity Of this
and carried IL out faithfully, IN
fact the little boy stayed IN bed
in spite Of his protests, for about
three months
In the other family vigilance
was relaxed after a week, and
within two weeks the child Was
UP and engaged in his usual
round Of activities. which as X
usual in childhood, were very
vigorous.
was able 70 follow these
children for over 10 years
The little boy who was kept in
bed for three months never de-
veloped any heart complications
of rheumatic fever and when
last heard Of was healthy and
vigorous.
In the case Of the child who
got up too soon. another attack
came about three years later
and within SiX weeks there were
unmiStakable evidences Of I'M
pairment OF the valves Of the
heart.
OF course. this might have
happened even II precautions
had been taken during tho on
tire conValeSCent period. but
that is not the general expert
once and as say. the two cases
are striking example OF this
one factor in the management
OF acute rheumatic fever.