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The protection from infection of babies, infants and of
weakly children should be regarded as important. Older children
are better able to withstand the illness but there is always an
occasional child who reacts poorly to the infection and care in
nursing all cases from the onset is essential, Secondary infection
is liable to occur in a weakened child and to give rise to
Pneumonia, The sulphonamide drugs and penicillin have greatly
reduced this danger, Early medical advice should be sought so as
to avoid complications.
The prevention of infection depends on recognition of the
early symptoms. These begin three or four days before the rash
appears. The child is catarrhal in the eyes, throat and nose and
is out of sorts, Irritable or listless. In this phase observation
in bed until medical advice is obtained is the best policy. The
child may be infectious and should be prevented from going to
school or cinema or playing in the streets. Complete isolation
in the home is often very difficult and sometimes impossible but
some reduction of contact can usually be achieved.
Whooping Cough. Three hundred and eight cases were notified
in 1953 compared with sixty seven cases in 1952. Prevalence was
highest in March and April, declined slowly and persisted throughout
the year. The case rate was 3.89 per thousand of population,
compared with 3.58 per thousand of population for England and
Wales. There was no death.

Whooping Cough is now regarded as the most serious infectious
disease of early infancy. The risk of mortality is highest during
the first three to six months from birth and diminishes progressively
with age. Older children who have been debilitated by
other illness are also at risk. The cough is always a severe
strain even in the robust child. Prevention depends on recognition
of the early symptoms and early isolation of the patient. The
drug Chloromycetin is effective in reducing infectivity and can
eliminate the bacillus from the throat. Earl y diagnosis can be
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