SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON CHOLERA IN CHILDREN. 



By Allan J. ^IcLalgiilin.^ 



{From the Bureau of Health.) 



There is no reason for believing children to be less susceptible to 

 cholera than adults, especially in view of the fact that children are par- 

 ticularly prone to all other intestinal disorders. 



Statistics of incidence in children in Manila, under 10 years of aye of certain 



diseases during the three years 1!)()T. 1908, l!)Of). 



Percentage 

 of cases. 



Meningitis^' 96.80 



Enteritis 93.14 



Dysentery 03. 6() 



Cholera ■22.82 



" Meningitis is here included with the intestinal diseases of children 

 because we are able to show that real acute meningitis is rare and that the 

 disease diagnosed by Filipino physicians as acute meningitis is usually an 

 intestinal infection with marked cerebral manifestations. 



During cholera epidemics in the Philippines, about 22 per cent of the 

 rei^orted cases of cholera occur in children, while the increase of deaths 

 among children from other diseases is remarkal)le. By examining the 

 following tables and charts, it will be seen that the. notable increase in 

 the deaths of children from meningitis, enteritis, and dysentery in Manila 

 is coincident with or that it immediately precedes an epidemic of 

 cholera, and that the increase is not dependent upon the season, as it 

 occurs in January and February as Avell as in July, August, or September. 



Owing to the investigations made by the writer in llie past three 

 months upon deaths in children from meningitis, enteritis, and dysentery, 

 more care has been exercised in making the diagnosis upon the death 

 certificates of children, and many cases were sent to San La/.aio Hospital 

 as cholera which probably formerly would have been classified as enteritis, 

 meningitis, or dysentery. Thus, the ])ercentage of cholera cases I'e- 

 ])orte(l in children under 10 years of age during the past outbreak was 



'Passed assistant snrgeon. I'nited States L'nhlic llealtli and .Mariner-Hospital 

 Service, Assistant Director iif Health. Manila. 



3(i3 



