314 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
If you suspect that a child has diphtheria:
♦ Put him to bed in a room separate from other persons.
♦ Get medical help quickly. There is special antitoxin for diphtheria.
♦ Give penicillin, 1 tablet of 400,000 units, 3 times a day for older children. Or give
erythromycin (p. 354).
♦ Have him gargle warm water with a little salt.
♦ Have him breathe hot water vapors often or continually (p. 168).
♦ Have him sip liquids often, even if it hurts to swallow.
♦ If the child begins to choke and turn blue, try to remove the membrane from his
throat using a cloth wrapped around your finger.
Diphtheria is a dangerous disease that can easily be prevented with the DPT
vaccine. Be sure your children are vaccinated.
Infantile Paralysis (Polio, Poliomyelitis)
Polio is most common in children under 2. It is caused by
a virus infection similar to a cold, often with fever, vomiting,
diarrhea, and sore muscles. Usually the child gets
completely well in a few days. But sometimes a part of
the body becomes weak or paralyzed. Most often this
happens to one or both legs. In time, the weak limb
becomes thin and does not grow as fast as the other one.
Treatment:
Once the disease has begun, no medicine will
correct the paralysis. (However, sometimes part or
all of the lost strength slowly returns.) Antibiotics
do not help. For early treatment, calm the pain with
acetaminophen or ibuprofen and put hot soaks on
painful muscles. Position the child to be comfortable
and avoid contractures. Gently straighten his arms
and legs so that the child lies as straight as possible.
Put cushions under his knees, if necessary to reduce
pain, but try to keep his knees straight.
Prevention:
♦ Vaccination against polio is the best protection (see p. 147).
♦ Do not give injections of any medicine to a child if you think his signs of a cold
or fever, might be caused by the polio virus. Although it happens only rarely, the
irritation caused by an injection could turn a mild case of polio without paralysis
into a severe case, with paralysis. Never inject children with any medicine
unless it is absolutely necessary.
♦ Breastfeed your baby as long as possible. Breast milk protects your baby against
infections, including polio.
Vaccinate all children against polio.