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23
Infective Diseases
their infectious disease hospitals to cases of Measles when the
disease is prevalent in London.
The methods operating at the present time in this Borough
to lessen the incidence and mortality from Measles are as
follows:—
(1.) Instructions to parents by means of leaflets.
(2.) The practical advice of the Health Visitors.
(3.) Advising parents to call in a doctor.
(4.) The provision of nursing when required.
(5.) The removal of serious cases to Hospital.
(6.) Disinfection of premises.
(7.) Convalescent treatment, after recovery, of children
under 5 years of age.
In order to obtain the maximum benefits from these
methods, early information of the cases is essential. It is
especially in young children that treatment should be prompt,
as complications occur more frequently in children under five
years, and Measles is pre-eminently fatal in the first three
years of life.
Measles epidemics occur every two years, and between
these epidemics no special efforts are required as few cases
occur and the mortality is very low.
For the few months every other year when the disease is
prevalent, a great deal can be done to discover cases as early
as possible by the prompt visiting of homes where children
are reported to be absent from school.
In order to obtain particulars of these absentees with the
least possible delay, I arranged with the County Medical Officer
of Health for the Borough Council's Health Visitors to meet
the school nurses daily at those schools where cases of the
disease were occurring, so that the Health Visitors could obtain
early information of the names and addresses of children who
were absent from school on account of Measles.
By this means cases can be discovered in the early stages
of the disease when treatment is efficacious, instead of coming
under observation only in an advanced stage when complications
have occurred and treatment is of little avail.