It is thought by some that there may be chronic carriers of measles, but
this is not at all proven. It is also believed that a discharging ear
following measles may be the means of continuing the transmission of the
disease. This is not proven. There are on record a large number of
instances which seem to point to the fact that under certain conditions a
third person may carry the infection from the sick to the well.
Transmission of measles to human beings by the lower animals is still
unproven.
It is not known what the cause of measles is. A great many scientists have
described germs which they believe to be the causal agents, but up to date
these have not been positively proven as the cause of measles. We do,
however, know that the infection of measles is found in the secretions
from the nose and throat during the first stages of the disease; therefore
persons suffering with measles should not be allowed to come in contact
with well persons until the period of fever has well passed.
Since the disease is known to be spread by the sputum, the prime measure
in the prevention of this disease is to prevent the sputum from the sick
being taken into the system of well persons. Children with measles should
be provided with a quantity of soft paper napkins, and as soon as the
napkins become soiled they should be burned. Children should be taught
that they must always hold a handkerchief in front of the mouth while
coughing. This is a measure which tends to control the spread of a good
many diseases besides measles, because during coughing and sneezing sputum
may be thrown several feet. Everything which has come in contact with
measles patients should be sterilized before it is allowed to come in
contact with other people or other things which may be handled or used by
other people. Bedclothes, napkins, table linen, towels, and the like may
be sterilized by boiling.
When it is known that measles exists in a community, no child having a bad
cough should be allowed to come in contact with other children during the
first three or four days of the cough.
It is little less than criminal to permit children known to have measles
to come in contact with well children. In this connection it may be
remarked that while it is generally considered that one attack of measles
confers immunity, there are many cases on record of second and third
attacks. It is true that the second attacks are usually very mild, but too
great reliance should not be placed on this immunity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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