SYMPTOMS    OF    COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES

Mothers,  school  teachers  and  other
persons  in  immediate  charge  of  small
children  should  be  constantly  upon
the  look-out  for  symptoms  of  com-
municable diseases  and  other  common
conditions  requiring  medical  atten-
tion. In  general,  any  marked  de-
parture from  the  normal  is  a  danger
signal.  The  most  common  symjjtoms
of  acute  contagious  diseases  are  as
follows:  very  red  or  pale  face;  red
or  discharging  eyes,  ears  or  nose;  un-
usual dullness  or  sleepiness;  evi-
dences of  sore  throat;  coughing,
vomiting     or     diarrhoeal     discharges.
186


HOUSEHOLD    DISCOVERIES


Eruptions  of  any  sort  demand  espe-
cially prompt  attention.  Chronic  dis-
eases may  be  suggested  by  emacia-
tion; defective  vision  of  one  or  both
eyes;  deafness;  mouth  constantly
open;  marked  odors  from  the  ear,
nose,  mouth  or  person;  peculiar  pos-
tures when  sitting  or  walking;  fre-
quent requests  to  go  out  or  to  the
toilet;  pain  or  swelling,  or  constant
scratching  of  any  part  of  the  body.
The  following  summary  will  be
found  convenient  for  ready  refer-
ence :

Symptoms  of  Fever.  —  Headache,
dullness  or  sleepiness  and  indisposi-
tion for  play  or  study;  languid  ex-
pression of  the  eyes;  sometimes
flushed  cheek  and  other  times  pallor;
heat  of  skin  and  increased  frequency
of  pulse,  all  indicate  fever.  Take  the
child's  temperature  promptly  with  a
clinical  thermometer.  A  normal  tem-
perature is  between  98°  and  99°.
Eruptions. — The  rash  of  scarlet
fever  is  of  a  bright  color.  It  usually
appears  on  the  neck  and  chest
spreading  thence  to  the  face.  A  very
characteristic  symptom  is  a  pale  ring
about  the  mouth.  There  is  usually
sore  throat.
