In the old days, before this young man

got his license to practice medicine, there

were no antibiotics...then came sulfa, and

after that....Penicillin....Now there are so many antibiotics

most doctors have to look for the best one from a long list of alternatives...

Shoppers can buy antibiotic ointments without prescription in any

pharmacy, and if your doctor refuses to give you an antibiotic you don't

really need, you go down the street to another doctor who will!

But the germs have changed, also...First, doctors discovered

that so much Penicillin was being used that a lot of people were getting

allergic reactions to it, some of them so bad that those involved died...

Then they noticed that germs that used to be wiped out immediately by

Penicillin no longer paid any attention, but acted like nothing at all

had been given the patient....Further along it was noted that other

bacteria that didn't cause people any problems were now becoming

more harmful and agressive because antibiotics were eliminating

their competitors, and allowing these" pussycats" to become "tigers"....

Apply this simple story to every other antibiotic that has come along,

and you have a fair understanding of where we are today!

Although not 100% true, its fair to say that in general,

antibiotics have no beneficial effect on a viral illnesses,

such as colds, Flu, and most childhood diseases...In

fact, if you talk some doctor into giving you some, against his or her

better judgement...you may be spending a lot of money to risk an

allergic reaction, almost certain side effects, and the possibility you

may change a simple disease into a more complicated and lethal one!...

This being true, it's often better to use so-called "old-fashioned"

treatments that smart people used to use with very good success before

antiobiotics, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, and 911 were so

easily available....With good sense on your part the treatments shown

from here on may save you a lot of grief and expense!

.......Notable EXCEPTIONS to the above sensible advice are such things

as EARACHES in children, which rapidly become worse without antibi-

otics, PNEUMONIA, which can kill you if not treated properly, and

known EPIDEMICS such as MENINGITIS and ENCEPHALITIS, which

you'll be alerted to the presence in your community by newspaper or

TV...In general, if simple treatments do not help in a short trial of a

few hours, it's time to get expert help!***,A more complete list will be given

at the end of this section of hazardous conditions that warrant instant expert care.

This from a book written by a doctor and a nurse in 1982, titled "Doctor,

What Can I Do?" Herald A. Habenicht MD and Helen Metz Rhodes...

Review and Herald Publishing Assn.

To determine which fever treatment is preferred, decide which fever is

present. 1. Fever with a flushed face, hot, dry skin, and full pulse.

................Problem: Excessive heat production. Need: Take heat

................away from body...cool enema, tepid sponge bath for 30

................minutes, or as long as needed...stop if patent appears

................cold, or if themperature rectally is now reasonable...

Picture 1 above shows a child in a graduated bath to lower a fever, with bath water

three to five degrees below mouth temperature...if the child likes bubble bath and

water toys, supply them...Make sure skin is warm before treatment begins.....

Picture 2 shows a cold compress [flannel or towel] pinned over sholder.....

Picture 3 shows instead a cold compress around head and neck to reduce head-

ache or sore throat [Do not leave patient alone to fall asleep and drown!].....

Picture 4 shows the child being given a friction rub, effective if chilly, until

circulation returns to skin...A hot water bottle to back may be necessary it

still too cold....If child looks pale or blue, put in warmed blanket...

Picture 5 shows child dressed for sleep...if sheets get damp, replace with

dry garments and sheets....Keep taking temperature every 15 minutes at

first, longer if staying down...repeat bath if temperature again reaches

dangerous levels.

2.Fever with headache, cold skin, wet or dry, goose flesh, chilly

sensations, shivering. Obviously the above treatment would make

the patient worse! Problem: The body is not ridding itself of heat.

.....Need: Warm the skin and combat internal congestion with

hot applications followed by brisk cold (which reacts in the body

like a hot application) Example: Very short hot half bath followed

by cold mitten friction. Result: With circulation now returned to

the skin, the body can rid itself of excess heat in a normal fashion...

The same precautions apply as in the other fever treatment.

Medication for FEVER: Since Dr. Habenicht and nurse Rhodes

wrote this book, which does not deal with medications, the

recommendations regarding Aspirin for children and young

children with flu-like symptoms has changed...Tylenol or Ibprofen

are preferred because of occasional serious problems caused by

aspirin in this age group...This makes the above treatments all

the more valuable if medication does not do the job....

Earache.....................................Asthma

Rapid, labored breathing............Suspicion of choking on foreign body

Severe Croup............................Scanty urine for 24 hours (or if an

"Strep" tonsillitis.............................infant with scanty urine after

Fever over 104' F. rectal................six to eight hours)

or convulsions

Watch for these signs in a small infant!

General irritability, fussiness, or crying in a baby who is usually happy.

Flushed face, hot, dry skin, or unusual paleness and coldness.

Unexpected profuse sweating.

Drowsiness, especially at times he or she is usually wide awake.

Watery or glassy appearance of the eyes.

Runny nose, sneezing, coughing.

Hoarse or husky cry.

Rash, skin eruption, or blotchy red patches.

Loss of appetite.

Vomiting, sudden throwing up of a feeding or of water...This differs from spitting up...

Diarrhea or sudden increase in the number of bowel movements, especially if they

are explosive, loose, and watery.

Urine or bowel movements tinged with blood.

Convulsions, fits, or spells during which a child stiffens and twitches.

OR [IMPORTANT] Such signs may be absent altogether, yet YOU KNOW THAT

SOMETHING IS WRONG....A baby may be quite ill but show no increase in

temperature...Check with the doctor whenever you are in doubt about

a small child or infant! ...Until you talk with a doctor, do NOT give any

medicine left over from a previous illness...This only complicates things for the

doctor and for you!

The pain of a sore throat can often be lessened by wrapping ice in

plastic wrap as above, and surrounding it with a large washcloth

or small towel to keep the ice from melting so fast...effective for

headaches also, but apply to the back of neck or forehead, which

ever helps...

Other treatments for sore throat: Gargle every 15 minutes or 1/2

hour with hot water [but not too hot]. ...Hot packs to neck...Soft or

liquid diet..At least 8 glasses of liquid daily...Steam inhalations

may help as pictured below....

This shows how an ordinary pan with a paper bag over it will direct

steam toward the patient if a hole is cut in one corner of the bag...

Caution must be used to avoid fires...A tea-kettle will do the same

thing, or a vaporizor from the drug store...oil of Eucalyptus or

tincture of Benzoin or Vicks in the water may increase the steam's

effectiveness...

Tonsillitis and Croup: Probably should not be treated without

consulting a doctor...Strep Tonsillitis can cause serious problems...

And croup can rapidly become much worse....

Laryngitis: Avoid speaking...use steam inhalations as above...hot

compresses to the neck, changed every 15 minutes at first, later

every hour....gargle with hot water...surprisingly, a hot footbath

3 or 4 times a day will also help....

Headaches due to colds, Flu, or Tension...also some Migraines:

Alternate hot and cold applications...Sometimes will also abort or

prevent ear problems if done during the first several hours...Use

towels of 12 in size for cold to head....More effective if preceded

by a hot footbath....Technique: To face, top of head, and ears,

apply two cold Turkish-towel compresses for three minutes,

followed by hot Turkish towel for three minutes...Repeat two more

times...Conclude with cold sponging to face, drying thoroughly..

If a typical Migraine Headache: Rest in dark room if improved.

Precaution: Do not use for hypertensive headache...Do not chill...

Rest for at least 30 minutes after treatment....

Smarter now than back then! INTERNET Family Doctor!