FIGHT AGAINST TETANUS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21470, 11 May 1935, Page 25

FIGHT AGAINST TETANUS

YOUNG GIRL ON WAY TO . RECOVERY. AUCKLAND HOSPITAL PATIENT [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, May 10. A girl aged live years, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital a week ago suffering from tetanus in its advanced stages, .is now well on the way to recovery.. It is extremely rare lor cures to be effected when the disease has a strong hold, and the recovery ol the young patient, representing as it does, something in the nature o£ a medical triumph, is a source of considerable gratiiication to the hospital staff, and particularly to the young resident doctor who was chiefly concerned with the case. "The child is not yet out of danger," said Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent at the hospital, discussing the case. "After a fight .for life, such as she had, there is always a risk of heart failure. The little girl was in an extremely bad way when she was admitted. In fact, she was in such a condition that the chances of recovery seemed remote. However, during the last two or three days there has been such a marked improvement as to suggest that she has an excellent chance of complete recovery." Dr. Craven said the girl was admitted on May 3. and the. disease was so far advanced that she was suffering from convulsions. In the majority of cases, when tetanus had advanced to that stage, the disease generally proved fatal. A general form of treatment was followed, the child being kept as quiet as possible in a darkened room. Injections of anti-tetanic serum were given, and sedatives were also administered 1o grant relief Iromthe convulsions. For several days the fiphl for the child's life was continued. Occasionally there would be improvement; but a relapse would follow, and Ihe patient required constant care and attention. Steady Improvement Throughout the last week-end the girl's condition remained critical; but last Tuesday there was sufficient improvement. to give the doctors cause for hope. That improvement had since been maintained; and the progress made by the child in the last 72 hours had been highly encouraging. Dealing with tetanus, one authority states that in the absence of anti-toxin treatment the prospect of recovery is extremely remote when the symptoms of disease arise within a week of the injury through which the infection takes plnce. If symptoms are noticed within 10 days the prospects are bad: but if they do not come on until three weeks or so after the injury there is hope. Fatal results rrenerally follow when treatment is delayer] until the disease is at an advanced sing".