_Treatment._—Exposure to the irritating substances which are known to
provoke an attack should be avoided.
The nose may be syringed out with a lotion containing boric acid and
bicarbonate of soda (five grains of each in four ounces of water), or
one containing bicarbonate of soda and salt (five grains of each in four
ounces of water), to which has been added two to four drops of carbolic
acid. The interior of the nostrils may be anointed with vaseline. Menthol
snuff is of great value. A substance called “Pollantin” has a specific
action in many cases, but it should be employed only under medical
supervision.
_Influenza._
Influenza has been introduced into many tropical countries, in which it
has spread rapidly and caused in many instances a very heavy mortality.
The actual cause of the disease is still a matter of dispute, but there
can be no doubt that it is chiefly spread by personal contact.
_Symptoms._—What may be called the respiratory type is pretty well known
to everyone, but it should not be forgotten that sometimes the main
stress of the disease falls either on the alimentary or the nervous
system, while there is also a type of what is known as febrile influenza
in which the heat-regulating centre is greatly upset. In this latter form
the temperature may be intermittent and it is then apt to be mistaken for
malaria.
The respiratory type is the most important. Its incubation period is
short, one or two days. The onset is sudden and is characterized by
shivering, pains in the back and limbs, severe headache and a feeling
of malaise. The patient may be giddy and suddenly collapse, his throat
is often dry and sore and he has an irritating cough. His temperature
rises and runs up to 102° to 104° F. His face becomes flushed, his eyes
reddened and his tongue is furred. Constipation is common. Uncomplicated
influenza, if promptly attended to, is not a very serious disease,
and improvement usually sets in about the third day. The most serious
complication of influenza is bronchial pneumonia, and in some forms of
the disease the heart is very apt to be affected.
_Prophylaxis._—Isolation of cases; free ventilation; treat patients
as much as possible in the open air. Nurses and those attending the
sick should be careful about contracting infection from the patient’s
invisible mouth spray. Indeed in some epidemics the use of face masks has
been recommended.
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