Measles Cases from 1838 to 2004
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:38 am
from my Childhood Disease class - some research I did
http://www.wellwithin1.com/childdiseaseclass.htm
Measles Cases from 1838 to 2004
I am going to quote from a variety of sources
from 1838 to 1986 to show you what is said about
measles so you can compare and see the
differences. Now they have made measles a
'killer'. Did it look like a killer in the
articles before the vaccine was out? You tell me.
Sheri
PS This [..] means text omitted in this area.
*******
1838 Hering, Constantine (father of American Homeopathy)
http://www.homeoinfo.com/02_history/people/hering.php (about Hering)
Homeopathic Domestic Physician
Part 1 in 1835 and Part 2 in 1838
Measles
Measles are usually preceded by catarrhal
symptoms, such as profuse watery flow from the
eyes and nose; short, dry and distressing cough;
the eyes have a peculiar watery appearance, and become more or less inflamed.
The fever at times becomes very high; nausea
and vomiting often set in, and there is pain n
the pit of the stomach on pressure. The eyes are
more sensitive to light; the cough more violent
and accompanied by hoarseness and difficulty of
breathing, and a feeling of tightness across the chest.
In from two to five days the eruption appears
as small red spots, of an irregular shape, the
size of a lentil and slightly raised above the
surface. The eruption makes its appearance n the
throat about twenty-four hours before it is seen
externally on the skin; here it is usually first
seen about the head, near the borders of the
hair, and on the temples; then on the forehead,
face and neck, from whence it spread to the trunk and limbs.
If you press your finger upon a single spot,
the redness will disappear, but after taking off
the finger, the redness will return, first, in
the middle and thence spread to the margin; in
other similar diseases, the redness returns in
the reverse order, first on the margin and then in the middle.
The red spots generally run together in
patches; in about five days from its first
appearance it begins to die away, and gradually
disappears in the same order as it advanced. The
cuticle (thin skin) sometimes comes off in small
bran-like scales, and the cough and other catarrhal symptoms yield.
Aconitum, the chief medicine in this complaint,
is especially indicated when the fever is
violent, with hot, dry skin; heat in the head;
giddiness; redness of the eyes and dread of light, and great weakness.
Pulsatilla, when the catarrhal symptoms
predominate, - when the eruption is tardy in
coming out; if it fails to produce an abatement,
Sulphur should be given, and afterwards Aconitum again.
Belladonna, when the throat becomes sore,
attended with thirst, difficulty of swallowing,
shooting and pricking pains in the throat; and
also when there is dry, barking or spasmodic
cough, worse at night, with rattling of mucus;
likewise in those cases where the eruption does
not appear, but there is headache and great
inflammation of the eyes; congestion towards the head.
Euphrasia, when the catarrhal symptoms, cough
and inflammation of the eyes, with great watering, are very prominent.
Ipecacuanha is most serviceable in arresting
the vomiting; also when there is oppression of the chest.
Bryonia, when the eruption is imperfectly
developed, or when there is congestion to the
chest, with shooting pains or stitches, increased
by taking a deep inspiration; and violent dry
cough. Sulphur in cases of congestion or
inflammation of the lungs. Arsenicum will be
required if the sickness or vomiting and
oppression of the chest remain after the use of
Ipecacuanha. In the severe cases, with typhoid
symptoms, Arsenicum, Bryonia, Phosphorus and Rhus will be useful.
Measles frequently leave behind diseases more
dangerous than themselves; consequently great
care is required in the after treatment.
In scrofulous children, troublesome swelling
and inflammation of the glands, especially those
of the neck, are apt to occur; or the eyes may be
affected with diseases, difficult to cure, and
the foundation be laid for consumption of the lungs.
A form of disease known as German measles has
been somewhat prevalent in this country during
the past few years. The affection is not serious,
and requires according to the symptoms the same
remedies as the true measles. It is to be
distinguished from measles by the appearance of
the eruption, which is frequently somewhat
similar to that occurring in scarlet fever. The
absence too of bronchitis is notable, and the
mildness of the entire attack is conspicuous.
From scarlet fever an attack of German measles
is recognized by the slight degree of fever and
particularly by the presence of catarrhal
symptoms, which are absent in the former disease.
For the cough which frequently remains after
measles, Bryonia, Sulphur, Causticum, Hyoscyamus,
Drosera, and other remedies, recommended under
?Cough?, are serviceable. Swelling of the glands
in the neck requires Arnica, Dulcamara or
Mercurius. Burning and itching of the skin, Nux
vomica, Sulphur and Arsenicum. Tenderness of the skin, Mercurius.
When measles are prevailing as an epidemic, the
administration of Pulsatilla, every two or three
days, on the first appearance of catarrhal
symptoms, should be disease be taken, may render it milder.
******
1908 Benson, A.R. Homeopathic Nursery Manual
REUEL A. BENSON, M. D. 8 West 19th St., New York. April, 1908.
Preface
This book was originally written for the use of
my own patients and nurses, among whom I have
found a constant demand for such information as
the book contains. It has been largely the
outgrowth of lectures delivered in the Flower
Hospital Training School for Nurses.
An effort has been made to write clearly and
concisely, and to avoid the common error of
giving too much technical information. This is
especially true of the section on care during
illness, as it is my belief that a human life is
too valuable to be trusted in any but skilled
hands. The therapeutic treatment is, therefore, purposely very meagre.
The book is intended for the use of homoeopathic
physicians and homoeopathic families and all
those who believe with me that a child who has
been properly fed and reared under the
homoeopathic regime, is physically better equipped for life than any other.
Measles (rubeola)
The onset of measles is decidedly different
from that of the diseases just described. The
first symptoms to be noticed are a discharge from
the nose, usually attributed to a cold, and
soreness and inflammation of the eyes. There is a
slight rise of temperature (101° - 102°), and a
dry, troublesome cough. Headache is sometimes
present, but rarely vomiting. The child is almost
invariably cross and irritable, and cries at the
slightest provocation. During this time the
throat, if examined, appears dark red and
congested. Sometimes small white dots with a dark
bluish base (Koplik's spots) may be detected on
the inside of the cheeks if examination is made for them in the daylight.
About four days after the first symptoms are
noted the skin eruption appears. It is apt to be
seen first upon the chest and spreads rapidly
over the whole body, the temperature increasing
until the rash is fully developed. The rash is
dark red, almost coppery in appearance, and the
spots appear to be slightly elevated on the
surface of the skin. These spots run together,
but there are frequent areas of healthy skin, so
that the general appearance is mottled rather
than the diffused redness of scarlet fever. The
eruption becomes darker, almost purplish, and
fades slowly. There is usually itching of the skin.
The cough and nasal symptoms often increase and
cause much discomfort. The eyes remain sore and
severe inflammation of the conjunctiva may
result. The eruption remains for two or three
days, and the temperature falls rapidly as the
eruption fades. During the acute stage of the
disease there is frequently stomach or intestinal
disturbance, usually in the form of diarrhoea.
After the eruption fades, the skin peels, but the
flakes of skin are very fine and will not be
detected unless careful examination is made.
The eyes and ears are frequently infected in
measles, and serious inflammation of these organs
is to be expected. The most frequent
complications, however, are bronchitis and
pneumonia. Cough and temperature existing after
the eruption has disappeared should be regarded
with suspicion. The weakened lung tissue also
provides fertile soil for the tubercle bacilli,
and many cases of pulmonary tuberculosis are
traceable to an attack of measles. The lowered
vitality of the child after measles enables the
tubercle bacilli to obtain a strong foothold.
It is not impossible for an individual to have
more than one attack of measles, but oftentimes
one of these attacks is unrecognized German measles.
Nursing : The child should be kept in bed
during the attack, and care should be taken to
prevent a bright light from striking the eyes. It
is not necessary, however, to exclude fresh air,
so long as the ordinary precautions against
taking cold are observed, nor should the child be
kept uncomfortably warm, as is so often done.
The eyes should be cleansed of all discharge
with warm water, and the nasal passages kept as
free as possible. The skin may be anointed with
olive oil to prevent itching, or if this is not
effective, the skin may be dusted with powder.
The child may be given plenty of cool water to
drink, but a liquid diet should be insisted upon.
Bryonia may be given, a teaspoonful every hour,
during the first stages, especially if the cough
is dry, hard and troublesome, if there is much
headache and the eruption is slow in appearing.
Chamomilla should be administered in the same
way if the mental symptoms predominate, if there
is much irritability and fretfulness.
Arsenicum is indicated if there is gastric
irritability with loose movements, high fever, and excessive thirst.
It is of the utmost importance to allow a long
period of convalescence after measles. Many
children are allowed to go out before they are
entirely well and frequently contract diseases of
the lungs as a result. Perhaps there is no other
disease of childhood which leaves the patient's
vitality in such a lowered condition as measles,
and for this reason a long rest, preferably in
the country, should follow an attack. Frequent
examination of the lungs should be made, and more
than ordinary care should be used to prevent taking cold.
********
1907 Century Book of Health
Says "When not complicated the disease is not at
all fatal. Attendent lung trouble make the case
more serious. Black measles are more generally
fatal" ("Black measles is the name given to that
form which is marked by very dark colored
eruption due to the presence of a form of
hemorrhage and in which the patient is
prostrated. It is met with in jails, camps and unsanitary dwellings"
Otherwise nothing is said about complications.
*********
1942 "International Modern Home Physician"
In an medical book I have - "International Modern
Home Physician" from 1942, there is no panic given about measles.
It says at that time mostly affects children
betwen the ages of 6 months and 2 years. [earlier
than other sources I have seen....Sheri]
They talk about sometimes there being 'some
complication' - "Severe bronchitis is a common
one, and it may go on to the lung disorder called
bronchopneumonia; or the patient may suffer from
the other type of pneumonia, lobar pneumonia, or
from pleurisy and perhapsy empyema. There is NO
mention of encephalitis or death.
******
1954 "Essentials of Pediatrics" - Jeans, Wright & Blake
"The illness may be so severe that the child dies
before the rash appears, or the rash may be hemorrhagic"
[Again, showing how important it is to have the
rash come out, or the disease internalizes.........Sheri}
"Such severe varieties of measles are uncommon,
and death seldom occurs as a direct result of
measles but as a result of complications" [..]
"Complications - Bronchopneumonia is the most
important of the common complications of
measles. Otitis media, though frequent is not so
serious. [..] Nephritis is
infrequent. Encephalitis, although not common,
occurs more frequently than formerly. It is a
cause of death in a few
instances." [interesting.....what is different
now........these children have had DPT vaccine
and smallpox.....is that making a difference
already?.....just thinking out loud.......Sheri]
"Complete recovery may be expected in more than
half the cases, residual defects of varying
severity persisting in the remainder. Measles is
reputed to be an activator of pre-existing
tuberculous infection [this is mentioned by the
homeopaths too......seeing TB
follow........certainly didn't happen in my
experience as a pediatric office assistant in the
60's and as a peds nurse in the 70's - however I
didn't see thousands.......Sheri]. In severe
measles, as in any other severe infection, the
intoxication may be great enough to affect the
myocardium [heart muscle] and cause dilatation of
the heart and a rapid feeble pulse. If the
circulation fails for this reason during the
eruptive state, the rash fades or even disappears
[again the rash going inward.......Sheri]. The
popular fear of the "rash going in" has no
foundation except as theis even may be dependent
on circulatory function [already they are
starting to delude themselves.......and ignoring
the wisdom of the previous
century........Sheri] Keeping the rash well out
by the use of heavy clothing or a hot room is
more of a disadvantage than otherwise" [disadvantage for who???......Sheri]
Prognosis-The prognosis in measles is dependent
in part on the age and also on the previous
condition of the child. The younger the child
and the poorer the physical condtion, the more
likely the disease to result seriously. In the
general population, the mortality rate is seldom
more than from 4-5% and it is usually less. In a
hospital where children already are ill,
especially in a ward for infants, the mortality
rate may be expected to be several times that in the general population"
[..]
"All of the complications of measles except
encephalomyelitis are the result of bacterial
invasion of mucous membrane surfaces which have
been debilitated by the infection with measles
virus. Antibiotic therapy controls these
complications. In some instances antibiotics are
given during the febrile period of measles in
order to forestall bacterial invasion"
********
1973 - Merck Manual (the maker of the Measles vaccine)
"Complications - Pneumonia from streptococci,
staphlococci, pneumococci or HIB and bacterial
otitis media [ear infection] are common. [..]
The most dreaded is encephalitis, which usually
occurs 3-6 days after onset of the exanthem
[rash] but occasoinally occurs when the rash has
disappeared and only a slight cutaneous
pigmentation remains. It is ushered in by high
fever, convulsions and coma. [..] The
encephalitis may be brief, with recovery in a
week or so, or may be prolonged and terminate in
serious CNS impairment or death. Encephalitis is
a rare complicaiton in those caes of measles
modified by immune serum globulin (human), but
the use of immune globulin in the treatment of
encephalitis has no proved value.
Prognosis - Measles is usually a benign infection
with a low mortality rate; one attack confers
lifelong immunity. However, particularly in
infants, the disease may be followed by
bronchopneumonia and other bacterial
infectsion. Post-measles encephalitis, which may
be fatal occurs once in 1200-1500 cases [now
everyone says 1:1000 cases.......Sheri]
Treatment [..] For encephalitis, hydrocortison
100 - 300 mg/day by parenteral injection
occasionally results in prompt 924-96 hrs)
clearing of the sensorium and rapid amelioration
of symptoms." [so now they are used steroids to
treat............do the steroids have an effect
on the death rate........I would think this is very possible.........Sheri]
********
1986 - Clinical Nursing (Mosby's)
"Complications of the disease involve the
respiratory tract and nervous system. Pneumonia
may result form direct invasion of the virus or
by secondary bacterial infectoin. Encephalitis
resulting from direct viral invasion of the brain
affects many persons subclincially. Pathologic
specimens of brain tissue show demyelination
[same as seen in autism......Sheri]" [..] A large
number of patients who recover are lfet with neurologic sequelae."
Treatment includes antipyretics in this
text. SSPE is mentioned for the first time.
*****
Online, today - 2004
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/0091e9 ... enDocument
"Complications are common, in 10 percent of cases
(see Table 9.1, section 9.6), and include otitis
media, pneumonia, croup, or diarrhoea.
Encephalitis has been reported in 1 in every 1000
cases, of whom some 15 percent die and a further
25 to 35 percent are left with permanent
neurological damage. Other complications of
measles include bronchiolitis, sinusitis,
myocarditis, corneal ulceration, mesenteric
adenitis, hepatitis and thrombocytopaenic purpura."
"Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a
rare degenerative central nervous system disease
resulting from persistent measles virus
infection, is fatal. In the USA, where there is
widespread measles immunisation, this
complication has virtually disappeared. The case
fatality rate for reported cases of measles in
the USA is 1 in 1000. Measles is particularly
severe in the malnourished and in patients with
defective cell-mediated immunity, who may develop
giant cell pneumonia orencephalitis without
evidence of rash, and have a much higher case
fatality rate. Measles is also serious in healthy
children: over half of all the children who died
from measles in the UK between 1970 and 1983 were
previously healthy.1 No other conditions were
reported as contributing to death of the seven
people who died from measles in the 1991 New Zealand epidemic'
[Now they say complications are common. And the hype is huge
I'm trying to find info on 1970 -1983 in UK.
I have just spent hours trying to nail this down in the UK
They make this info so hard to find
Have spent the last 2 hours
Best I can come up with (I don't have excel and
one of the stats pages is in excel only)
The best I can come up with is in 1971 is 155,000
notifications of measles and 28 deaths; in 1978 -
20 deaths - don't know the number of
notifications. And we don't know the number of true cases.
See below.........
http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/01/95/25/04019525.pdf
22.1.2 Fulfilment of criteria of a case
definition is not a requirement for notification
of measles but recent experience shows that few
cases, notified according to clinical diagnosis,
are measles. Correctly diagnosed cases tend to be
those occurring in older children and in
outbreaks. The presence of the following features
may improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis:
rash for at least three days, fever for at least
one day, and at least one of the following - cough, coryza or conjunctivitis.
[..]
Complications of measles have been reported in
one in 15 notified cases, and include otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia,
convulsions and encephalitis. Encephalitis has an
incidence of one in 5000 cases, [very different
than the 1 in 1000 spouted in the
US.........Sheri] has a mortality of about 15%,
and 20% to 40% of survivors have residual
neurological sequelae. Electro-encephalographic
changes have been reported after apparently
uncomplicated measles as well as in cases with
frank encephalitis. Complications are more common
and severe in poorly nourished and chronically
ill children; it is therefore particularly
important that such children should be immunised against measles.
[..]
Between 1970 and 1988, there continued to be an
average of 13 acute measles deaths each year.
[And they say 1/2 of the deaths were were
healthy.....humm......need more info - were they
vaccinated, did they use drugs, fever suppressants?........Sheri]
You will see huge variations in the
numbers..........and notifications of diseases is
VERY different than actual cases
You will constantly see apples compared with
oranges. It seems they mix things up to keep it confused.
The worst outbreak in the last 15 years was in
1990 in UK, when there were 27,786 cases and 89 deaths.
http://www.whale.to/y/stats/measlesdeaths.html
Chart for Measles Deaths in UK
Case reporting unreliable
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/measles3.html
GPS MISDIAGNOSE MEASLES IN 97% OF CASES
They all compare apples with oranges -
notifications, cases, deaths, England, Wales, UK
- all different graphs that don't compare the same with the same.
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/s ... &Rank=1000
ANYONE have EXCEL who can go to this site and get
the info?????????? Email me years and
notifications and actual cases and deaths for 1971 - 1990 if you can
http://www.whale.to/y/stats/icd8measles.html
28 Deaths
*********
So you see a progression in the above reports
from 1838 to 1973 to 1986 to NOW........what is
new in 1954 - better sanitation and nutrition
(maybe), increase in consumption of sugar,
vaccinated for Smallpx and DPT in 1954,
antibiotic use (suppression?), and sedatives used
for cough, fever is controlled by
hydrotherapy. Probably other factors I'm not
thinking of. Just guesswork. And by 1973, much
mention of encephalitis barely mentioned early
on. And treatment with steroids (also aspirin in
use at this time for fever, etc) and Measles
Vaccine is out. Same in 1986......does that make
a difference in how measles is portrayed? Or did
it change? Did children become more depleted in
Vitamin A? Never mentioned in the above as a
treatment. And such a manipulation of
stats. What a mess.........that's all I can see.
Certainly not scientific.
But generally do you see a huge problem after you
have waded through all of this?
Sheri
copyright 2004 Sheri Nakken
http://www.wellwithin1.com/childdiseaseclass.htm
Measles Cases from 1838 to 2004
I am going to quote from a variety of sources
from 1838 to 1986 to show you what is said about
measles so you can compare and see the
differences. Now they have made measles a
'killer'. Did it look like a killer in the
articles before the vaccine was out? You tell me.
Sheri
PS This [..] means text omitted in this area.
*******
1838 Hering, Constantine (father of American Homeopathy)
http://www.homeoinfo.com/02_history/people/hering.php (about Hering)
Homeopathic Domestic Physician
Part 1 in 1835 and Part 2 in 1838
Measles
Measles are usually preceded by catarrhal
symptoms, such as profuse watery flow from the
eyes and nose; short, dry and distressing cough;
the eyes have a peculiar watery appearance, and become more or less inflamed.
The fever at times becomes very high; nausea
and vomiting often set in, and there is pain n
the pit of the stomach on pressure. The eyes are
more sensitive to light; the cough more violent
and accompanied by hoarseness and difficulty of
breathing, and a feeling of tightness across the chest.
In from two to five days the eruption appears
as small red spots, of an irregular shape, the
size of a lentil and slightly raised above the
surface. The eruption makes its appearance n the
throat about twenty-four hours before it is seen
externally on the skin; here it is usually first
seen about the head, near the borders of the
hair, and on the temples; then on the forehead,
face and neck, from whence it spread to the trunk and limbs.
If you press your finger upon a single spot,
the redness will disappear, but after taking off
the finger, the redness will return, first, in
the middle and thence spread to the margin; in
other similar diseases, the redness returns in
the reverse order, first on the margin and then in the middle.
The red spots generally run together in
patches; in about five days from its first
appearance it begins to die away, and gradually
disappears in the same order as it advanced. The
cuticle (thin skin) sometimes comes off in small
bran-like scales, and the cough and other catarrhal symptoms yield.
Aconitum, the chief medicine in this complaint,
is especially indicated when the fever is
violent, with hot, dry skin; heat in the head;
giddiness; redness of the eyes and dread of light, and great weakness.
Pulsatilla, when the catarrhal symptoms
predominate, - when the eruption is tardy in
coming out; if it fails to produce an abatement,
Sulphur should be given, and afterwards Aconitum again.
Belladonna, when the throat becomes sore,
attended with thirst, difficulty of swallowing,
shooting and pricking pains in the throat; and
also when there is dry, barking or spasmodic
cough, worse at night, with rattling of mucus;
likewise in those cases where the eruption does
not appear, but there is headache and great
inflammation of the eyes; congestion towards the head.
Euphrasia, when the catarrhal symptoms, cough
and inflammation of the eyes, with great watering, are very prominent.
Ipecacuanha is most serviceable in arresting
the vomiting; also when there is oppression of the chest.
Bryonia, when the eruption is imperfectly
developed, or when there is congestion to the
chest, with shooting pains or stitches, increased
by taking a deep inspiration; and violent dry
cough. Sulphur in cases of congestion or
inflammation of the lungs. Arsenicum will be
required if the sickness or vomiting and
oppression of the chest remain after the use of
Ipecacuanha. In the severe cases, with typhoid
symptoms, Arsenicum, Bryonia, Phosphorus and Rhus will be useful.
Measles frequently leave behind diseases more
dangerous than themselves; consequently great
care is required in the after treatment.
In scrofulous children, troublesome swelling
and inflammation of the glands, especially those
of the neck, are apt to occur; or the eyes may be
affected with diseases, difficult to cure, and
the foundation be laid for consumption of the lungs.
A form of disease known as German measles has
been somewhat prevalent in this country during
the past few years. The affection is not serious,
and requires according to the symptoms the same
remedies as the true measles. It is to be
distinguished from measles by the appearance of
the eruption, which is frequently somewhat
similar to that occurring in scarlet fever. The
absence too of bronchitis is notable, and the
mildness of the entire attack is conspicuous.
From scarlet fever an attack of German measles
is recognized by the slight degree of fever and
particularly by the presence of catarrhal
symptoms, which are absent in the former disease.
For the cough which frequently remains after
measles, Bryonia, Sulphur, Causticum, Hyoscyamus,
Drosera, and other remedies, recommended under
?Cough?, are serviceable. Swelling of the glands
in the neck requires Arnica, Dulcamara or
Mercurius. Burning and itching of the skin, Nux
vomica, Sulphur and Arsenicum. Tenderness of the skin, Mercurius.
When measles are prevailing as an epidemic, the
administration of Pulsatilla, every two or three
days, on the first appearance of catarrhal
symptoms, should be disease be taken, may render it milder.
******
1908 Benson, A.R. Homeopathic Nursery Manual
REUEL A. BENSON, M. D. 8 West 19th St., New York. April, 1908.
Preface
This book was originally written for the use of
my own patients and nurses, among whom I have
found a constant demand for such information as
the book contains. It has been largely the
outgrowth of lectures delivered in the Flower
Hospital Training School for Nurses.
An effort has been made to write clearly and
concisely, and to avoid the common error of
giving too much technical information. This is
especially true of the section on care during
illness, as it is my belief that a human life is
too valuable to be trusted in any but skilled
hands. The therapeutic treatment is, therefore, purposely very meagre.
The book is intended for the use of homoeopathic
physicians and homoeopathic families and all
those who believe with me that a child who has
been properly fed and reared under the
homoeopathic regime, is physically better equipped for life than any other.
Measles (rubeola)
The onset of measles is decidedly different
from that of the diseases just described. The
first symptoms to be noticed are a discharge from
the nose, usually attributed to a cold, and
soreness and inflammation of the eyes. There is a
slight rise of temperature (101° - 102°), and a
dry, troublesome cough. Headache is sometimes
present, but rarely vomiting. The child is almost
invariably cross and irritable, and cries at the
slightest provocation. During this time the
throat, if examined, appears dark red and
congested. Sometimes small white dots with a dark
bluish base (Koplik's spots) may be detected on
the inside of the cheeks if examination is made for them in the daylight.
About four days after the first symptoms are
noted the skin eruption appears. It is apt to be
seen first upon the chest and spreads rapidly
over the whole body, the temperature increasing
until the rash is fully developed. The rash is
dark red, almost coppery in appearance, and the
spots appear to be slightly elevated on the
surface of the skin. These spots run together,
but there are frequent areas of healthy skin, so
that the general appearance is mottled rather
than the diffused redness of scarlet fever. The
eruption becomes darker, almost purplish, and
fades slowly. There is usually itching of the skin.
The cough and nasal symptoms often increase and
cause much discomfort. The eyes remain sore and
severe inflammation of the conjunctiva may
result. The eruption remains for two or three
days, and the temperature falls rapidly as the
eruption fades. During the acute stage of the
disease there is frequently stomach or intestinal
disturbance, usually in the form of diarrhoea.
After the eruption fades, the skin peels, but the
flakes of skin are very fine and will not be
detected unless careful examination is made.
The eyes and ears are frequently infected in
measles, and serious inflammation of these organs
is to be expected. The most frequent
complications, however, are bronchitis and
pneumonia. Cough and temperature existing after
the eruption has disappeared should be regarded
with suspicion. The weakened lung tissue also
provides fertile soil for the tubercle bacilli,
and many cases of pulmonary tuberculosis are
traceable to an attack of measles. The lowered
vitality of the child after measles enables the
tubercle bacilli to obtain a strong foothold.
It is not impossible for an individual to have
more than one attack of measles, but oftentimes
one of these attacks is unrecognized German measles.
Nursing : The child should be kept in bed
during the attack, and care should be taken to
prevent a bright light from striking the eyes. It
is not necessary, however, to exclude fresh air,
so long as the ordinary precautions against
taking cold are observed, nor should the child be
kept uncomfortably warm, as is so often done.
The eyes should be cleansed of all discharge
with warm water, and the nasal passages kept as
free as possible. The skin may be anointed with
olive oil to prevent itching, or if this is not
effective, the skin may be dusted with powder.
The child may be given plenty of cool water to
drink, but a liquid diet should be insisted upon.
Bryonia may be given, a teaspoonful every hour,
during the first stages, especially if the cough
is dry, hard and troublesome, if there is much
headache and the eruption is slow in appearing.
Chamomilla should be administered in the same
way if the mental symptoms predominate, if there
is much irritability and fretfulness.
Arsenicum is indicated if there is gastric
irritability with loose movements, high fever, and excessive thirst.
It is of the utmost importance to allow a long
period of convalescence after measles. Many
children are allowed to go out before they are
entirely well and frequently contract diseases of
the lungs as a result. Perhaps there is no other
disease of childhood which leaves the patient's
vitality in such a lowered condition as measles,
and for this reason a long rest, preferably in
the country, should follow an attack. Frequent
examination of the lungs should be made, and more
than ordinary care should be used to prevent taking cold.
********
1907 Century Book of Health
Says "When not complicated the disease is not at
all fatal. Attendent lung trouble make the case
more serious. Black measles are more generally
fatal" ("Black measles is the name given to that
form which is marked by very dark colored
eruption due to the presence of a form of
hemorrhage and in which the patient is
prostrated. It is met with in jails, camps and unsanitary dwellings"
Otherwise nothing is said about complications.
*********
1942 "International Modern Home Physician"
In an medical book I have - "International Modern
Home Physician" from 1942, there is no panic given about measles.
It says at that time mostly affects children
betwen the ages of 6 months and 2 years. [earlier
than other sources I have seen....Sheri]
They talk about sometimes there being 'some
complication' - "Severe bronchitis is a common
one, and it may go on to the lung disorder called
bronchopneumonia; or the patient may suffer from
the other type of pneumonia, lobar pneumonia, or
from pleurisy and perhapsy empyema. There is NO
mention of encephalitis or death.
******
1954 "Essentials of Pediatrics" - Jeans, Wright & Blake
"The illness may be so severe that the child dies
before the rash appears, or the rash may be hemorrhagic"
[Again, showing how important it is to have the
rash come out, or the disease internalizes.........Sheri}
"Such severe varieties of measles are uncommon,
and death seldom occurs as a direct result of
measles but as a result of complications" [..]
"Complications - Bronchopneumonia is the most
important of the common complications of
measles. Otitis media, though frequent is not so
serious. [..] Nephritis is
infrequent. Encephalitis, although not common,
occurs more frequently than formerly. It is a
cause of death in a few
instances." [interesting.....what is different
now........these children have had DPT vaccine
and smallpox.....is that making a difference
already?.....just thinking out loud.......Sheri]
"Complete recovery may be expected in more than
half the cases, residual defects of varying
severity persisting in the remainder. Measles is
reputed to be an activator of pre-existing
tuberculous infection [this is mentioned by the
homeopaths too......seeing TB
follow........certainly didn't happen in my
experience as a pediatric office assistant in the
60's and as a peds nurse in the 70's - however I
didn't see thousands.......Sheri]. In severe
measles, as in any other severe infection, the
intoxication may be great enough to affect the
myocardium [heart muscle] and cause dilatation of
the heart and a rapid feeble pulse. If the
circulation fails for this reason during the
eruptive state, the rash fades or even disappears
[again the rash going inward.......Sheri]. The
popular fear of the "rash going in" has no
foundation except as theis even may be dependent
on circulatory function [already they are
starting to delude themselves.......and ignoring
the wisdom of the previous
century........Sheri] Keeping the rash well out
by the use of heavy clothing or a hot room is
more of a disadvantage than otherwise" [disadvantage for who???......Sheri]
Prognosis-The prognosis in measles is dependent
in part on the age and also on the previous
condition of the child. The younger the child
and the poorer the physical condtion, the more
likely the disease to result seriously. In the
general population, the mortality rate is seldom
more than from 4-5% and it is usually less. In a
hospital where children already are ill,
especially in a ward for infants, the mortality
rate may be expected to be several times that in the general population"
[..]
"All of the complications of measles except
encephalomyelitis are the result of bacterial
invasion of mucous membrane surfaces which have
been debilitated by the infection with measles
virus. Antibiotic therapy controls these
complications. In some instances antibiotics are
given during the febrile period of measles in
order to forestall bacterial invasion"
********
1973 - Merck Manual (the maker of the Measles vaccine)
"Complications - Pneumonia from streptococci,
staphlococci, pneumococci or HIB and bacterial
otitis media [ear infection] are common. [..]
The most dreaded is encephalitis, which usually
occurs 3-6 days after onset of the exanthem
[rash] but occasoinally occurs when the rash has
disappeared and only a slight cutaneous
pigmentation remains. It is ushered in by high
fever, convulsions and coma. [..] The
encephalitis may be brief, with recovery in a
week or so, or may be prolonged and terminate in
serious CNS impairment or death. Encephalitis is
a rare complicaiton in those caes of measles
modified by immune serum globulin (human), but
the use of immune globulin in the treatment of
encephalitis has no proved value.
Prognosis - Measles is usually a benign infection
with a low mortality rate; one attack confers
lifelong immunity. However, particularly in
infants, the disease may be followed by
bronchopneumonia and other bacterial
infectsion. Post-measles encephalitis, which may
be fatal occurs once in 1200-1500 cases [now
everyone says 1:1000 cases.......Sheri]
Treatment [..] For encephalitis, hydrocortison
100 - 300 mg/day by parenteral injection
occasionally results in prompt 924-96 hrs)
clearing of the sensorium and rapid amelioration
of symptoms." [so now they are used steroids to
treat............do the steroids have an effect
on the death rate........I would think this is very possible.........Sheri]
********
1986 - Clinical Nursing (Mosby's)
"Complications of the disease involve the
respiratory tract and nervous system. Pneumonia
may result form direct invasion of the virus or
by secondary bacterial infectoin. Encephalitis
resulting from direct viral invasion of the brain
affects many persons subclincially. Pathologic
specimens of brain tissue show demyelination
[same as seen in autism......Sheri]" [..] A large
number of patients who recover are lfet with neurologic sequelae."
Treatment includes antipyretics in this
text. SSPE is mentioned for the first time.
*****
Online, today - 2004
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/0091e9 ... enDocument
"Complications are common, in 10 percent of cases
(see Table 9.1, section 9.6), and include otitis
media, pneumonia, croup, or diarrhoea.
Encephalitis has been reported in 1 in every 1000
cases, of whom some 15 percent die and a further
25 to 35 percent are left with permanent
neurological damage. Other complications of
measles include bronchiolitis, sinusitis,
myocarditis, corneal ulceration, mesenteric
adenitis, hepatitis and thrombocytopaenic purpura."
"Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a
rare degenerative central nervous system disease
resulting from persistent measles virus
infection, is fatal. In the USA, where there is
widespread measles immunisation, this
complication has virtually disappeared. The case
fatality rate for reported cases of measles in
the USA is 1 in 1000. Measles is particularly
severe in the malnourished and in patients with
defective cell-mediated immunity, who may develop
giant cell pneumonia orencephalitis without
evidence of rash, and have a much higher case
fatality rate. Measles is also serious in healthy
children: over half of all the children who died
from measles in the UK between 1970 and 1983 were
previously healthy.1 No other conditions were
reported as contributing to death of the seven
people who died from measles in the 1991 New Zealand epidemic'
[Now they say complications are common. And the hype is huge
I'm trying to find info on 1970 -1983 in UK.
I have just spent hours trying to nail this down in the UK
They make this info so hard to find
Have spent the last 2 hours
Best I can come up with (I don't have excel and
one of the stats pages is in excel only)
The best I can come up with is in 1971 is 155,000
notifications of measles and 28 deaths; in 1978 -
20 deaths - don't know the number of
notifications. And we don't know the number of true cases.
See below.........
http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/01/95/25/04019525.pdf
22.1.2 Fulfilment of criteria of a case
definition is not a requirement for notification
of measles but recent experience shows that few
cases, notified according to clinical diagnosis,
are measles. Correctly diagnosed cases tend to be
those occurring in older children and in
outbreaks. The presence of the following features
may improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis:
rash for at least three days, fever for at least
one day, and at least one of the following - cough, coryza or conjunctivitis.
[..]
Complications of measles have been reported in
one in 15 notified cases, and include otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia,
convulsions and encephalitis. Encephalitis has an
incidence of one in 5000 cases, [very different
than the 1 in 1000 spouted in the
US.........Sheri] has a mortality of about 15%,
and 20% to 40% of survivors have residual
neurological sequelae. Electro-encephalographic
changes have been reported after apparently
uncomplicated measles as well as in cases with
frank encephalitis. Complications are more common
and severe in poorly nourished and chronically
ill children; it is therefore particularly
important that such children should be immunised against measles.
[..]
Between 1970 and 1988, there continued to be an
average of 13 acute measles deaths each year.
[And they say 1/2 of the deaths were were
healthy.....humm......need more info - were they
vaccinated, did they use drugs, fever suppressants?........Sheri]
You will see huge variations in the
numbers..........and notifications of diseases is
VERY different than actual cases
You will constantly see apples compared with
oranges. It seems they mix things up to keep it confused.
The worst outbreak in the last 15 years was in
1990 in UK, when there were 27,786 cases and 89 deaths.
http://www.whale.to/y/stats/measlesdeaths.html
Chart for Measles Deaths in UK
Case reporting unreliable
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/measles3.html
GPS MISDIAGNOSE MEASLES IN 97% OF CASES
They all compare apples with oranges -
notifications, cases, deaths, England, Wales, UK
- all different graphs that don't compare the same with the same.
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/s ... &Rank=1000
ANYONE have EXCEL who can go to this site and get
the info?????????? Email me years and
notifications and actual cases and deaths for 1971 - 1990 if you can
http://www.whale.to/y/stats/icd8measles.html
28 Deaths
*********
So you see a progression in the above reports
from 1838 to 1973 to 1986 to NOW........what is
new in 1954 - better sanitation and nutrition
(maybe), increase in consumption of sugar,
vaccinated for Smallpx and DPT in 1954,
antibiotic use (suppression?), and sedatives used
for cough, fever is controlled by
hydrotherapy. Probably other factors I'm not
thinking of. Just guesswork. And by 1973, much
mention of encephalitis barely mentioned early
on. And treatment with steroids (also aspirin in
use at this time for fever, etc) and Measles
Vaccine is out. Same in 1986......does that make
a difference in how measles is portrayed? Or did
it change? Did children become more depleted in
Vitamin A? Never mentioned in the above as a
treatment. And such a manipulation of
stats. What a mess.........that's all I can see.
Certainly not scientific.
But generally do you see a huge problem after you
have waded through all of this?
Sheri
copyright 2004 Sheri Nakken