Show HEALTH HEAL TH ADVICE By Dr Morris Morrs Fishbein Editor Journal of the American M Md df cal Association As a a part of the tendency to rheumatic conditions in children I there appears the condition conditio called rheumatic heart disease e. e It Itis Itis itIs is responsible today for the permanent permanent per per- manent crippling of many many- young children and not infrequently it causes death It seems to affect particularly the children of the poor and those who have suffered for a long time with chronic infections of the nose and throat yet it is s also found among the well to Apparently exposure to damp is a factor of considerable importance Some cases occur in children who do not seem to have any other symptoms of rheumatic character but these thes are the exception In this condition the responsible agent apparently enters the blood bloodstream bloodstream bloodstream stream perhaps from the nose and throat and then attacks the muscle the lining and the coverIng coverIng cover cover- Ing of the heart Occasionally the first sign isa is isa isa a sudden disturbance of the heart Itself but in most instances there are preliminary sore throats throat and fever during such an attack the heart may be found enlarged Perhaps Perhaps Per Per- haps naps also there are murmurs to tobe tobe tobe be heard with ith the stethoscope indicating that the heart ia Is not performing its work normally In Iii some cases a rapid heart is the first indication that the heart h u finding difficulty in doing its work A child with active rheumatic conditions is usually found to be pale to get tired easily to be without appetite and to have some sonic shortness of breath Such children are usually excitable and emo ems Occasionally they find difficulty in sleeping and do not I rest well at night getting up and walking sometimes shrieking durIng during dur dur- during durr r ing sleep F The physician who examines examine the patient will find that the heart gives evidence of damage Sometimes Sometimes Sometimes Some Some- times it is enlarged most often there are murmurs indicating that the valves do not function Mt sati- sati i- i Occasionally also there are signs indicating that the pericardium pericardium peri pen or cover of the heart has been inflamed so that motion l lof of the heart gives rise to sounds sound of ot rubbing Inflammation of this covering of the heart causes the tissues to pour out fluid is as a I means of protection against the th Z inflammation Sometimes by use we of the X-ray X as well as by the usual physical tests this enlargement enlarge enlarge- ment will become apparent |