Children Most Susceptible

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 3, 2 December 1947, Page 4

Children Most Susceptible

The proportion of children who become infected in a community -- roust be very high but the attacks are so mild that they are not aware of , them. Others with the febrile ill- ? ness who may never see a doctor are just as likely to excrete virus as these who become paralysed. The paralysis itself may involve any muscle in the legs, arms, chest or abdomen and there is no specific treatment for it. Serum from convalescent patients or pooled adultserum has not proved of any value in treatment or prevention. The sulfanilamide group of drugs is of no value and may even be harmful. Penicillin has been tried and is of no value. However, the degree of improvement from the initial paralysis may be very considerable. Small children are the most susceptible group to attack from the disease and its incidence decreases as age increases. However an adult 1 attack tends to be more severe than in the younger cases. In contrast with other infectious diseases severe ‘ forms of this disease occur in apparently robust and' healthy children. Later summer and autumn are usual periods for the epidemic and this present attack has started earlier than usual.