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147
II.—COPY OF LEAFLET ON MEASLES.
important.
Borough of Lewisham.
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
MEASLES.
Cake Notice, that in consequence of an outbreak of Measles affecting children
in the Borough, it is desirable that the contents of this circular should
receive the serious attention of all parents and guardians with a view of
preventing the spread of the infection.
Symptoms.—The disease generally begins with severe cold in the head,
marked heat of the body, and coated tongue, followed by swelling of the
eyelids and a watery appearance of the eyes. On the fourth day after the
onset a rash appears on the forehead and face of the patient, quickly extending
to the rest of the body, in the form of slightly raised spots of a dull red colour.
All discharges from the eyes, mouth and nose are infectious from the first.
Directly a child is found to be suffering from the disease he (or she) should
be put to bed and nursed in a warm room for at least a fortnight, and all other
occupants of the house, especially children, excluded from the room.
Measles among young children is a dangerous infectious disease and
must NOT be treated lightly. The greatest care must be taken to avoid
exposure to cold, or the consequences may be fatal.
Medical advice should be obtained in all cases.
Remember that more young children die from measles and the diseases
resulting therefrom, than from Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria together.
To prevent the spread of infection the room used by the patient should be
thoroughly disinfected. This will be done free of charge by the Sanitary
Authority, on receipt of a postcard addressed to the Medical Officer of Health,
at the Town Hall, Catford, at the termination of the case. All the clothing
and bedding should be placed in a solution of disinfectant (which can be
obtained gratuitously at the Town Hall Yard) and afterwards boiled.
All children suffering from Measles must be kept from school for at least
one month from the onset of the disease.
Other school children in the house, who are not suffering from the
disease, must be treated as follows :—
Infant Scholars.—All children attending the Infants' Department must
be kept from school until the Monday following 14 days from the occurrence
of the last case.
Senior Scholars.—Children attending the Senior Departments of the
school, if they have had the disease, need not be kept from school.
If, however, they have not had the disease, they must be kept from school
until the Monday following 14 days from the occurrence of the first case.
A. WELLESLEY HARRIS,
Town Hall, Catford.
Medical Officer of Health