The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-02-07

only anu Inth OilAg bHiOhBh
his column.
member Of the family, neighbor or
fellow worker who may be show
ing the early signs Of its onset.
Pneumonia in children deserves
q special article, because in many
ways il may differ from the same
disease in the adult. The causes
and the nature may not differ, but
the child's organism reacts in =
somewhat different way, and be-
sides, the child cannot express how
badly he feels, accurately so for
that reason may be neglected
Much More Gradual
One point in which there 10 a
difference is that in the child the
onset may be much more gradual.
j emphasized yesterday that in the
adult the onset is likely TO be sud
den, even explosive, a matter Of
an entire change Of bodily feeling
between IL noon and ! o'clock.
Also said that in an adult the
explanation so often heard that
che had q bad chest cold that ran
into pneumonia" usually did not
stand analysis. In children these
are just reversed. The onset OF
pneumonia in children may be very
gradual, and many childhood dis
eases run into pneumonia.
Most Of the acute contagious
diseases Of childhood can wind up
with a pneumonia. This is true Of
\ measles, whooping cough, diphthe-
ria and less frequently Of scarlet
fever. 1t is the reason that a pro-
lenged convalescence is safest in
all these conditions. Amy symptom
or sign of chest infection, rest
lessness, cough, fever, wheeling
breathing, towards the end Of these
contagious should be regarded
with the utmost seriousness.
Broneho- Pneumonia
The form known as broneho-
pneumonia, which is really the ex-
tension of q bronchitis TO the
lungs. is far more common in chill
dren than in adults. And this 10
the only form in which it could be
said that q cold ran into pneu-
monia. So IL q youngster who has
been suffering from a deep chest
cold, does not show any indications
of swapping out Of it, but continues
to drag along and get more and
more droopy, that alone should be
cause for investigation. In the
lK-ray we have an instrument for
much earlier recognition Of these
conditions than by any other
method.
However, contrary TO q BELIEF g.
once held by doctors, late and care
fully compiled statistics show that
the regular form Of pneumonia-
lobar pneumonia--is much more
frequent in children than the bron-
eho-pneumonic form. And in chill
dren, as in adults, the onset Of this
condition is likely to be sudden and
explosive.
The treatment, or rather the
management, Of pneumonia in
children is not in any notable man
ner different from that in adults.
General care, which means rest in
bed, keeping the patient warm and
covered up, fresh air and nourish-
ing liquid food, are in both caseS
the most important items. Oxygen
is more beneficial in the pneumo-
Mas Of childhood than that Of
adults. And it is easier to admin
lister TO a child than 10 a grownup.
The sulfa drugs, our mainstay
treatment in adult pneumonias,
are somewhat toxic to children and
have to Be watched by the doctor
with more care. Whether peni-
eillin will entirely replace their use
remains to be seen. 1t will have
to be very good if it is better than
they are when they work.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
OBJ: We have a son three years
Jld who has eczema which is very
severe. Have you any suggestions?
Answer: Eczema in children al
ways clears up when they get
older, but it is very distressing
while it lasts. 1t is considered as
usually due to food Allergy.
CO.. W: Is there a cure for I'M
dulant fever"