Health Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 306, 17 March 1928, Page 12

Health Notes

POLIOMYELITIS METHOD OF TREATMENT (Contributed by the Department of Health.) Acute poliomyelitis is the scientific name of the disease which is commonly known as infantile paralysis, though paralysis actually occurs in a comparatively small proportion of those attacked. Throughout the world from 1880 to the present day over 150 outbreaks of infantile paralysis have been recorded. In recent years there has been a marked increase both in the frequency of the epidemics and in the average of cases recorded in each. Over a period of five years the number of cases per epidemic now average from 300 to 600, and as an exceptional instance New York City reported 8,928 cases in 1916 with 2,407 deaths. This increase cannot be wholly accounted for by the fact that infantile paralysis is now better known, and is, therefore, more readily recognised and diagnosed as such. A great deal of research work has been undertaken in recent years to establish the origin and nature of this disease, and as a result a considerable addition has been made to our knowledge of the subject, though much remains to be learned. Cause and Immunity One attack of infantile paralysis confers a high degree of immunity. It lias been shown that the blood serum of those who have recovered from the disease when mixed with the virus renders it harmless. It has also been shown recently that human Mood serum from mild or abortive eases when mixed with the virus renders it inert just as does the serum of typical cases in which paralysis has developed. Environment and social conditions have little bearing upon the appearance of the disease, and it occurs as commonly in sparsely-settled rural districts as in crowded cities. The victims of the disease are almost without exception robust children, and the children of wealthy parents are equally prone to an attack as those of the poorer classes. It is a disease of early life, by far the greatest majority of cases occurring under the age of 16 years. Modes of Transmission Persons of five years and under contribute approximately 70 per cent, of the cases, and epidemics in any one country tend to recur every three to five years, seemingly when a fresh number of susceptible children is available. Persons under 16 years contribute over 90 per cent, of the cases. There is much evidence to support the opinion that the disease Loth in its mild and in its severe form is directly transmissible from person to person. In addition, healthy carriers, persons who have been in contact with a case, can carry the virus in the mucous membrane of their noses and throats without suffering any symptoms. These carriers, even if the infection they carry comes from a mild unrecognised case, may produce an attack of severe type if they chance to convey the infection to a sufficiently susceptible person. The weight of present opinion inclines to the view that infantile paralysis is exclusively a human disease, and is spread by personal contact, which includes all the usual opportunities, direct or indirect, for the transference of body discharges from person to person, having in mind the possibility that the infection may occur through contaminated food. Symptoms The symptoms may simulate any of the indefinite illnesses of childhood, and in the presence of an epidemic it is well for parents and physicians to treat sick children having fever withefut a definite proven diagnosis as possible cases of poliomyelitis. Still there is a grouping of symptoms which is very suggestive, the combination of fever, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness and irritability, especially when combined with headache, a transient flushing of the face, abnormal sweating or retention of urine, is enough to make tentative diagnosis of poliomyelitis, if defined cases are occurring in the vicinity. An onset with one or more remissions is very suggestive of poliomyelitis. When signs of involvment' of the nervous system supervene the diagnosis is readily made. Paralysis of a group of muscles occurs when its controlling area in the brain or spinal cord is injured or destroyed. T reatment It behoves all who come in contact with a case of poliomyelitis to strictly carry out all instructions of the medical attendant and health authorities as to isolation and the precautionary measures to be observed. Prompt and expert treatment of affected groups of muscles is often efficacious in limiting the extent of paralysis and in bringing about satisfactory recovery. The best chances of recovery from the paralysis sometimes associated with poliomyelitis is skilful after-care under the direction of a physician. Treatment must be prolonged, and is necessarily tedious, but often results in remarkable improvement.