BRONCHO-PNEUMONIA. (Acute Inflammation of the Smaller Tubes and Lungs)
Categories:
Respiratory Diseases
Causes. Most common under two years and in old people. Taking cold,
whooping cough and measles.
Symptoms. A primary case begins suddenly with a convulsion or chill,
vomiting and rapid rise of temperature. Breathing is frequent and brain
symptoms are marked.
Secondary Cases. After an ordinary case of whooping-cough, measles,
bronchitis, etc., there is more fever. The pulse is more frequent, a
d
also the respiration, difficulty in breathing and severe and often painful
cough. Temperature rises to 102 to 104; respirations are very fast, up to
60 to 80; the breathing (inspiration) is hard, labored, while the wings of
the nose dilate; expiration may be grunting. Face looks anxious and
bluish. This color may increase, other symptoms decreasing as suffocation
deepens, rattling in chest and death from heart weakness.
Prevention. Avoid exposure to sudden changes of temperature. For the
attack, jacket of oil silk or flannel to prevent sudden exposure, keep the
temperature warmed up to 68 to 70 degrees night and day; the air must be
fresh and pure and changed regularly.
Children should be given ample room and not hampered by extra clothing, as
they like change of position, to get relief. The hot bath must be used
often to redden the skin and relieve the pressure on the lungs, till they
can be given relief. If you wish to use a poultice the following is a nice
way to make it. Take a piece of muslin or linen, or cheese-cloth, wide
enough when doubled to reach from the lower margin of the ribs to well up
under the arm pits, and long enough to go a little more than around the
chest, open the double fold and spread the hot mass of poultice on
one-half of the cloth and fold the other over it. It should be applied as
hot as it can be comfortably borne and covered with oil silk or paraffin
paper, so as to the longer retain the heat and moisture. The poultice
should be renewed as often as it gets cold, and a fresh poultice should be
all ready to put on when the old one is taken off. Place the end of the
poultice uppermost, so that the contents will not fall out.