WHOOPING COUGH
Whooping cough begins much like an ordinary cold, with
running nose and perhaps a little dry cough. Days may go by with nothing
further happened. A mother may think the child is well again and send him to
school. But then he feels chilled, begins to vomit, his temperature and the
coughing spells become longer. Soon he is coughing and deal, eight to ten times
without catching his breath. When he does get his breath, there is a long noisy
intake of breath, which in where the whoop comes in.
This cough, please note,
does not appear the second week, so you need not be unduly alarmed any time child
has a cough right after catching cold. I Ill' three major indications of
whooping cough are (1) the long coughing spells, at night as well as during the
day, (2) the whoop, and (3) vomiting. The average case lasts about six
weeks-two weeks coming, two running, two going away. In deciding whether a
cough that has gone on for a long time is whooping cough, the doctor may need
to do some laboratory tests.
Especially for infants, whooping cough can be dangerous
because it paves the way for pneumonia. During the first two weeks, it's very
contagious. Be careful to see it is not spread to other children or adults in
the household who have not been immunized. Temporary protection for the latter
can be obtained with a special type of gamma globulin shot. A booster dose of
immunizing vaccine can be given to those previously immunized.
While most cases
are mild enough to be cared for at home, severe ones, especially in infants,
require hospital care. Treatment involves bed rest. The room should be well
ventilated. Conditions that provoke coughing-such as smoke, dust, activity, sudden
temperature changes-should be avoided. Small, frequent feedings help. Be
certain to call your doctor when you suspect whooping cough. Remember, whooping
cough can be prevented by immunization in early infancy.
MEASLES
Measles, a
virus-caused disease, is very contagious. It starts with cold- like
symptoms-sneezing, coughing, temperature elevation. The eyes are sensitive to
light and become pink from inflammation. Both the eyes and face look puffy.
After a few days, a characteristic rash appears; the spots are pink and may
show first behind the ears, on the forehead or the cheeks, and then spread
downward. Usually the spots itch when the fever is at its highest point. The
rash begins to fade after two or three days. By then, the child feels better.
Once, measles was considered a mild disease. It was thought that every child
should get it and be done with it. We know now that measles can be a serious
disease because of the complications. It sometimes produces convulsions which
can be extremely worrisome. It may lead to ear infections and pneumonia. Death
does not occur of ten-1 in 10,000 cases- but any death, or serious complication
from a disease that is now preventable is, indeed, a tragedy. And measles
complications include encephalitis, brain damage, and mental retardation.
Today, measles vaccine is available, notably effective in providing long-term,
quite probably lifelong, immunity. By all means, have your children protected.
Measles may pave the way for invasion by other germs, and so only the minimum number
of people required to care for the child should be allowed in his room. Adults
may infect the child with germs of other diseases.
The child with measles should be kept in bed and given
plenty of fluids. If light bothers his eyes, protect them with an eye shade or
visor and, of course, avoid glare. The sensitivity to light (photophobia) will
clear up without any permanent effects on the eyes.
