Influenza by Charles Henry Hayton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 16, 1913

Influenza

By Charles Henry Hayton

CHARLES HENRY HAYTON, M. D.

Influenza in its true medical sense is an infectious and contagious disease, caused by a specific bacillus, which finds access to the body through the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx, and which generally manifests itself in epidemic form. The term is applied more commonly, however, to every form of mild indisposition connected with the respiratory tract. A cold is spoken of by some as an attack of influenza. All wide-spread epidemics of colds should be looked upon as attacks of influenza. How often factories have been closed, society, schools, and neighborhoods quarantined, and commerce injured by these epidemics of influenza.

History

Influenza has a history, and a very sad one. More rapidly than any other disease has it spread throughout the country. Every known part of the world has been visited by its epidemics, and very few families escape.

It is carried mainly along the lines of human travel. The poisons are airborne, or may be carried by clothing, as they cling for some time to infected articles or persons.

Generally beginning somewhere in the East, Russia for instance, it spreads through the country, and then travels in a westerly direction, not spending itself until the whole globe has been well-nigh compassed. It is a winter disease, being most prevalent in December and January. It attacks large numbers of the population. Few die of it, however, as it is a disease not attaining, per se, a very high mortality. The great number of deaths result from the serious complications which frequently follow. In the epidemic of 1903, which swept over most of Europe, the deaths in England and Wales numbered 6,322.

Symptoms

Adults between the ages of twenty and forty are more often attacked, young children and the aged less frequently. Certain occupations tend to predispose one to the disease, indoor and sedentary occupations especially so. One attack seems to make a person more susceptible to other attacks. The debilitated in general, and those who have any catarrhal condition of the respiratory tract, such as weak throat, winter cough, or asthma, are especially prone to the disease. It must not be forgotten that influenza hastens the progress of any preexisting disease, so that a person with heart-disease, Bright’s disease, or chronic bronchitis should be very careful of exposure. In the extreme of ages, influenza is most serious.

The mucous membrane of the nose is the first to be attacked. The inflammation is then most likely to spread to the pharynx, then travel up the Eustachian tubes to the middle ear. A great number are deaf as a result of a previous attack of influenza. The air canals which open into the nose also become diseased, and serious results follow. The influenza causes a swelling of the tonsils, and may travel down the throat to the lungs. Pneumonia is likely to follow, or if the influenza finds its way to the stomach gastritis results.

A running from the nose and eyes is first noticed, then constant sneezing, sore throat, bronchial cough, and thick sputum follow. Loss of appetite, headache, backache, and a feeling of general discomfort and depression, with slight fever, are some of the common symptoms of an attack. These are due to the effect of the poison in the system, every organ of the body being more or less congested and inflamed. Oftentimes the influenza poison assumes a chronic form. One does not feel sick enough to be in bed, but complains of poor appetite, weariness, headache, has a coated tongue, and is unable to attend to regular duties. Some when having these chronic attacks believe they have malaria, and not infrequently

tuberculosis is suspected. Change of climate and of food will greatly improve these invalids.

Prevention

At the present time many look upon the fact of catching cold as a trivial matter; but when one realizes that it is often a predisposing factor in influenza, it behooves one to take every precaution to avoid taking cold. Catching cold is a process that takes place through some irritation of the skin, sitting in a draft, or going out unduly clad. The skin reacts in such an unhealthful way that when increased demands are made upon it, a cold results. The preventive measures therefore should be to harden the skin against such irritation by a systematic course of training. Fresh air, and plenty of it in the sleeping-rooms, keeping the bedroom cold, a cold sponge-bath in the morning before dressing, or better still a cold spray or plunge, followed by a good rub with a coarse towel, is a splendid tonic for the skin, and is also a hardening process through which the skin becomes immune to colds.

The selection of proper clothing is also a preventive measure in colds. Underwear made of light wool should be worn, especially during the winter months. This protects the body from the effects of the sudden changes in the weather. Exposure of any kind should be avoided, and the body should be kept warmly clad. How often one sees his fellow creatures going about during winter weather with low shoes and insufficient outer covering.

The upper portion of the respiratory tract, the nose, and the pharynx especially, should be kept in a healthy condition. Always breathe through the nose. If this is impossible, see your physician and have the obstruction removed. Everything depends upon keeping the filtering functions of the nose up to their highest efficiency. A nebulizer or an atomizer is a good instrument to have at home. Use it two or three times a day as a preventive measure.

A good solution can be had at any chemist’s, made up as follows: Menthol, 30 grains; camphor, 20 grains; eucalyptol, 10 drops; olei pini Sylvestris, 30 drops; liquid paraffin, 2 ounces.

These measures are especially valuable where there is any danger of fine particles of foreign matter being deposited upon the mucous membrane of the nose. The dust that is daily breathed up the nostrils in the crowded and busy cities is a menace to health. With children special precautions should be taken against dust inhalation. The attention of parents should be called to the dangers arising from this source. When there is a strong wind, an infant should be carefully veiled when he is taken out.

Curative Measures

The mild, uncomplicated variety of influenza lasts but a short time, two to five days at the most. The fever is not high, but the prostration is sufficient to keep one in bed for a few days. Good, plain, wholesome food should be eaten.

A purge is in order, as this helps to drain the system of the toxic poisons. Drinking hot lemonade, with a hot foot-bath, or better still a warm full bath, tends to eliminate poisons through the sweat-glands and also through the urine. The aim in all the treatment is to prevent as far as possible any complication that may arise, and to rid the system of the bacterial poisons which have accumulated in the body. The complications are to be feared for they are numerous. What are known as sequelae often follow an attack. The commonest is debility, frequently extreme and of long duration. Rest is of great importance in the treatment, and one with an attack should immediately take to bed till the acute symptoms are over.

The convalescent period is often very slow, and it may be months before the full effects of an attack have passed away. A recurrence before full recovery is not uncommon. Relapses are often brought about by slight exposure before the symptoms have fully passed away.

The influenza bacillus is very easily destroyed. The milder antiseptics, as five-per-cent lysol, saturated solution of boric acid, or ten volumes strength of hydrogen peroxid, are fatal to it. Have plenty of these at hand, and disinfect all the eating utensils after each meal. It is only by keeping the health up to the standard that the body is able to resist the influenza bacillus. A frugal but nourishing diet, total abstinence from alcohol, tea, and coffee, and a normal, regular, healthful outdoor life are the best aids in resisting influenza attacks.