Scarlet fever is an exanthematous form of disease distinguished by a
scarlet eruption of the skin. It produces marked symptoms in three
localities, the skin the throat and the kidneys.
It is doubtful whether it can be conveyed from one person to another; at
least nothing is known concerning the "contagium," or germ of conveyance
of infection,--according to the differential diagnosis of Dr. G.
Kuhnemann, whose work on the subject is held to be authoritative. It is
not to be denied that the disease may be carried by articles of clothing
and by intermediary persons, who themselves are not suffering from it.
The incubation period--the time intervening between infection and
eruption--during which the infected person is "sickening for" disease,
varies from two to as much as eight days.
Chills, feverishness, headache, nausea and actual vomiting are the
initial symptoms, and sore throat with difficulty in swallowing soon
follow.
Inspection reveals the appearance of an acute throat inflammation, and
the tip and sides of the tongue are red as a raspberry. A few hours
later--or at most a day or two--the eruption appears; first in the
throat, then on the face and chest. It begins with minute, bright red,
scattered spots, steadily growing larger until they run together so that
the entire skin becomes scarlet, being completely covered with them.
Frequently the temperature in the evening ranges as high as from 103° to
105° Fahrenheit. Albumen is always found in the urine.
After two or more days the fever mounts gradually, the throat symptoms
increase, the eruption fades away, and from four to eight days later the
patient's condition returns to normal.
At the beginning of the second week desquamation, or scaling, begins,
the skin peeling off in minute flakes. At this stage heavy sweats set in
and the excretion of urine is increased.
In epidemic form the type is sometimes much more malignant, even to the
degree that death occurs on the first day with typhoid and inflammatory
brain symptoms, unconsciousness, convulsions, delirium, excessive
temperature, and rapid pulse. This may happen even without the eruption
becoming fairly recognizable. In such severe epidemics the throat
symptoms are apt to take on the aspect of diphtheria. The renal
discharge exhibits the conditions of a catarrh of the urinary canals
originating from causes we do not understand.
Among the after effects of scarlet fever are inflammation of the ear
with all its consequences, and inflammatory affections of the lungs, air
passages, diaphragm and heart membrane.
The cause, I repeat again, is _dysaemia_--impure blood.
If the patient is predisposed to this form of disease and moreover, a
weakling, the case is a dangerous one.
Every good mother should see to it that there is healthy blood in her
offspring. The task is comparatively an easy one, the method, is simple
and ignorance ceases to be an excuse, for my object is to place the
necessary knowledge within the reach of all.
The treatment of scarlet fever varies according to which symptoms are
most severe.
In the first place prophylactic efforts must be constantly employed to
prevent _possible_ contagion. Healthy children must be strictly
seperated from the sick till the end of desquamation or scaling--a
period of four to six weeks.
If the course of the attack is normal, the patient should be kept in bed
under a light cover with a room temperature of 60° to 65°. The sick room
must be well ventilated and aired daily.
The windows should be hung with transparent _red_ curtains.
The diet may consist of milk, curds, barley soup, oatmeal gruel, flour
gruel, with some cooked fruit and, of drinks, lemonade, soda water, and
raspberry juice; but the most important drink from a scientific point is
Dechmann's "Tonogen," as previously described.