Mystery Disease Kills Children

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 15

Mystery Disease Kills Children

(Special Correspondent N.ZP A.)

SYDNEY, Nov. 14. A disease that has killed 17 children in New South Wales is mystifying Australian doctors who are now relying on overseas research to solve the mystery. Child specialists in Sydney have studied the clinical and pathological pattern of the disease, but know of no cure. Details of the disease have now been published in the British medical journal, the "Lancet." It is hoped this will stimulate doctors throughout the world to report similar findings or any fresh ideas they might have.

The disease has not yet been named in Australia. Fourteen girls and seven boys, aged from five months to eight years, have contracted the disease in New South Wales since 1961. Four have recovered, but the others died, on an average. in 27 hours after symptoms were observed. The first symptoms are cough, running nose, sore throat and earache. Later symptoms are fever, vomiting, convulsions, disturbed breathing and coma. On four of the children who died a rash started at the neck and spread to the rest of the body. The tissues of all who died showed a fatty degeneration. Most of the children victims came from Sydney suburbs, but a few were from the Southern Tablelands. A team of doctors in New South Wales is trying to establish whether the killer is a poison from some plant or vegetable. “Lancet,” in an editorial comment, said a potent poison might have caused the deaths of the children.