|
Contagion
1880: The “germ” which caused diphtheria was believed to have been transmitted through the air, and would be easily attached to clothing, bedding, furniture, walls, etc. Food, water and milk was also considered to be a source of diphtheria. Because of this nature, every case of diphtheria needed to be isolated from the public, especially children. In a family, the sick should be isolated from the well. This was especially important because of the number of families that lost more than one child in a family. Parents were warned that their clothing could harbor the germ, and be passed from the sick to the well as they were taking care of both of them. Any discharges from the throat, nose, and mouth of the patient was to be burned. The feces of the patient was recommended buried, and those vessels which contained the waste products needed to be disinfected with sulfate of iron. “Soiled bed and body linens should be placed in boiling water, or in water containing chlorinated soda, chlorinated lime, or a solution of chloride of zinc, and never be allowed to pass into the general wash” . Those people also recovering from diphtheria were encouraged not to attend school, church, or any public assembly too soon after illness, for fear of spreading. Also, those people just recovered should have no discharge from the nose or throat, a clean body, and clean clothes. If someone died from diphtheria in a family, the deceased needed to be placed in a coffin with a disinfectant, the coffin tightly closed, and no public funerals. In a home, the room that held a person infected with diphtheria was recommended to be thoroughly disinfected by exposing the room to strong fumes of chlorine gas, sulphur, and then with fresh air for several days. “One reason why the diphtheria epidemic lingers a long while in some towns, where there has been an epidemic of the disease, showing itself now and then in a new outbreak is that the contagion is allowed to live for many months in a portion of the houses, and is there ready to develop into the disease, when a child or other person comes in contact with it who is capable of contracting the disease.”8
2004: For two to five days, initial symptoms of diphtheria are common cold symptoms, a mild sore throat and low grade fever. During this time, the diphtheria bacteria is considered to be highly contagious, and easily spread through sneezing, coughing, laughing, talking, drinking glasses, and used tissues with body fluids on them.9 After a white or gray membrane appears in the back of the throat, the swelling of the soft tissues of the neck. Diphtheria is sometimes called “bull neck” because the neck fluids build up and make the neck features disappear. Communicability may last up to 4 weeks. Coma and death can occur within a week of infection. Crowded and unsanitary conditions do contribute to the spread of diphtheria, however diphtheria was not exclusive to poor and undernourished people of Brown County. The diphtheria bacteria can survive up to six months in dust and formites.10
Disinfecting Preparations
1880: Disinfectants were necessary to control the passage of diphtheria and other germs to healthy individuals. Natural disinfectants included sunlight and fresh air. Artificial disinfectants included chlorinated soda (Labarraque’s Solution), sulphate of zinc with common salt (chloride of zinc solution), sulphurous acid gas, and manganese peroxide mixed with muriatic acid to create chlorine gas. “Take care not to breathe the fumes, then leave the room and close the door.” Scary “In both cases of sulphurous and chlorine gas, the rooms should be thoroughly aired before entering after the disinfection.”11
2004: Boiling water is still effective, but we have many common household products help us with the disinfecting process, including bleach, Lysol, and hydrogen peroxide that are safe and effective to use. Hazardous waste disposal is a commonality in hospitals, in addition radiation can be used to sterilize contaminated materials. If a person does become infected with the diphtheria baceria, hospital care includes drugs such as penicillin, erythromycin, and anti-toxins.
Special Preventative Measures
1880: With the spreading of diphtheria around Minnesota, preventing the illness from occurring in the first place was the battle. People were recommended to avoid houses where the disease had appeared, secure dryness of the ground under and around the dwelling by complete drainage, secure dryness and good ventilation of every part of every part of the dwelling, see that no cess-pool remains near the house, make sure the privy-vault is in a proper condition, let sun and air have free access to the house, especially the sleeping rooms, and secure proper and well-prepared food and comfortable clothing.12
2004: The first attempt at a cure for diphtheria included an anti-toxin discovered by Emil von Behring in 1890.13 Starting with the year 1912, vaccines to prevent diphtheria were given on a regular basis, and still are today. The DTP vaccine is given to all infants before the age of 18 months in 3 doses. Ninety five percent of United States children under the age of three are protected against diphtheria.14 Even though a vaccine is available, under immunization occurs in countries such as Russia leading to diphtheria outbreaks in 1994-5.15 Currently, diphtheria is active in more than 80 countries16, therefore if you travel, booster shots are recommended for adults every ten years.17 In the United States, most diphtheria occurs in adults, because almost half of the adults are not adequately immunized.18 Have you gotten your booster shot?
Diphtheria was a devastating illness that swept through Brown County in the 1880's. Many children suffered a horrible death as a result of “the strangling angel of children.”19 It is amazing to see how families lost all or most of their children to diphtheria. Hopefully we will never see such a epidemic in our lifetime.
|
