POLIOMYELITIS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 312, 18 December 1936, Page 4

POLIOMYELITIS.

Advice To Public On Infantile Paralysis. (Contributed by the Department of ■ Health). Acute poliomyelitis is the scientific name of the disease which is commonly know as infantile paralysis. However, this popular designation is somewhat of a misnomer for the disease is not confined to infants and paralysis occurs in a comparatively small proportion of those attacked. Throughout the world from 1880 to the present, day outbreaks of poliomyelitis have occurred, aud in view of its prevalence in Australia attention is drawn to the following information. ' The weight of present opinion inclines to the view that poliomyelitis is exclusively a human disease, and is spread by personal contact, which includes all the usual opportunities, direct or indirect, for the transference of bodily discharges from person to person, having in mind the possibility that the infection may occur through contaminated food.

Symptoms. The early symptoms may simulate any of the indefinite diseases of childhood. In the presence of an epidemic it is well to regard children having fever without a definite proved diagnosis as possible cases of poliomyelitis. Still there is a grouping of symptoms which is very suggestive—the continuation of fever, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness and irritability, especially when combined with headache; a transient flushing of the face, abnormal sweating, or retention of urine are enough to make tentative diagnosis of poliomyelitis, if defined cases are occurring in the vicinity. Such symptoms as outlined should put one on guard so that the family physician may’ be called before the disease has reached the paralytic stage.

Treatment. It behoves all who come in contact with cases 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. As it is a disease which often brings disaster in its train no personal precautions can be too great to prevent its spread to others. Regarding the treatment of individual cases, the importance of securing medical advice at the earliest opportunity cannot be too greatly stressed. Prompt and expert tr atment of affected groups of muscles is often efficacious in limiting the extent of paralysis and bringin ; about satisfactory’ recovery. The best chances of recovering from paralysis sometimes associated with poliomyelitis is skilful aftercare under the direction of a physician.