THE PREVENTION OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS WITHIN FAMILIES

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Abstract
There are 4 general principles that provide the theoretical basis for the prevention and control of any infectious disease, namely, (1) to eradicate the causative agent, (2) to destroy the reservoir of infection, (3) to break the chain of transmission, and (4) to increase the resistance of the human host. These principles have varying degrees of application and of effectiveness. The home appears to be an important place of spread of many infectious diseases, such as the common respiratory infections of presumably viral origin, streptococcal infections, non-bacterial pharyngitis, and influenza. It is important therefore to apply the available preventive measures within the family unit. Methods of prevention and control are available for only a limited number of respiratory diseases of primary importance in this country today. Their application, however, has been to a large extent responsible for the decline in incidence and fatality of a number of infectious and communicable diseases, and the potential has by no means been exhausted. No truly effective methods are available now for the prevention of the great majority of respiratory diseases caused by viruses. Continuing studies on the new respiratory tract viruses, on the cultivation of the viruses of measles and of chickenpox, and on virucidal and virustatic chemical compounds, however, hold out real hope for the future.

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