ADVICE GIVEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 296, 14 December 1936, Page 9

ADVICE GIVEN.

WARNING TO PARENTS

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN.

Despite the fact that the outbreak of infantile paralysis has so far been reported only from Dunedin, and despite the fact also that no cases have been reported in Auckland, the Health Department has issued advice to parents for the diagnosis and early treatment of the disease. The Department points out that although the disease, the technical name of which is poliomyelitis, is called infantile paralysis, its attack is not confined to children.; "The weight of present opinion inclines to the view that poliomyelitis is exclusively a human disease, and is spread by personal contact," states the Department's warning. "The disease may occur suddenly without any previous symptoms whatever," said Dr. T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health in Auckland, yesterday, "but in the majority of cases the initial symptoms are malaise, feverishness, headaches, pain in the back, neck or limbs, and gastro-intcstinal disorders, such as constipation, diarrhoea, or pains in the stomach or bowels. These symptoms are associated with more or less wasting and occasionally with twitchings of the muscles. Vomiting and drowsiness also commonly occur, especially among young children. Symptoms Described. "The feverish period and initial symptoms may subside leaving no paralysis, but there may be marked weakness," said Dr. Hughes. "Pain, apart from headache, is a common symptom and it may occur in the muscles or all over the whole surface, the patient crying out on being touched or moved. Stiffness of the neck varies in degree from a slight limitation in movement to extreme retraction of the head.

"Exposure to heat appears to be one of the prime causal factors and the disease appears to become epidemic in temperate climates, where an excessively hot summer is experienced at irregular intervals, while other factors appear to be fatigue, whether mental or physical, chills and abnormal conditions of the throat and intestinal passages. "Children should not be exposed to extremes of temperature and should avoid indoor public gatherings in hot weather. They should have plenty of fresh air and "be suitably clothed to prevent over-heating and subsequent chilling. They should not play bareheaded in the sun nor in dusty thoroughfares, and the back of the neck should be well protected. Since the srerms of disease may leave the throat during coughing or sneezing always cough or sneeze into a handkerchief, especially in a room or public vehicle. Kissing children on the lips should not be tolerated, and mixing with people who have any ill-defined feverish illness should be avoided. Early Treatment. "Gargling and washing of the nose with if mild anti-septic may be carried out," said Dr. Hughes, "using a crystal of condys to a cup of water, giving it a pink colour, or a teaspoonful of salt to a pint of warm water. The use of common drinking cups should be avoided and all food should be scieened from flies, which may carry disease, and all "arbage and refuse should be disposed of by burying or burning, or kept | in proper] v-covered receptacles until removed. "Finally, the importance _of j seeking medical advice at the earliest opportunity cannot be too greatly emphasised."