INFANTILE PARALYSIS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 6

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

POSITION NOT ALARMING

PRECAUTIONS AND TREATMENT.

The position with regard to infantile paralysis in the Dominion is clearly stated by the Public Health • Department in a memorandum issued as the result of inquiries by an Evening Post reporter. The qfficial statement is as follows: —

While infantile paralysis (acute poliomyelitis) is classed amongst the infectious diseases, and a causative organism has i been isolated, the infectivity is of'a low order. This is bast shown perhaps by the well-known fact that it, is exceedingly rare for more than one case to occur in any one household. The position at present in New Zealand is by no moans alarming. Tho dhsease, while more prevalent than of late years, presents no evidence of assuming epidemic proportions in any degree comparable to the 1916 outbreak. , Since the beginning of the year the notifications of this disease by weeks are as follows:— . j Week ending January 3 3 ' :10 3 '17 11 24 10 31- 17 February 7 22 > 14 22 ,' ■ 21 20 In considering the above figures it should be added .that the disease is never entirely absent, and even in the most favourable years (sporadic cases occur. The next table shows the number of cases reported to the Department during the years 1917-1920:— . ■ . 1917. 1918. 1919. 1920. '54 6 11 46 The Department is exercising strict precautions with regard to every known case. The general public will best guard against the disease by attention to' personal hygiene and strict observance of the ordinary rules of health. Fresh air, above all, is most desirable. '

"The disease usually has as one of its results the development of paralysis of a group or groups of muscles in the arm. or leg, or both, and the treatment of this paralysis is, in the majority of cases, best carried out in a hospital. Most cases will require to be carefully watched and treated for lengthy periods after discharge from, hospital in order to prevent deformities of various kinds from ■ developing. The .importance of such after-treatment cannot be too much stressed.'

"At the present time there are more than 100 children being treated for ifffantile paralysis at the military hospitals at Rotorua and Trentham, under an arrangement entered into between the Defence \ and Health Departments.' These children ara obtaining, the benefits of treatment at the hands of specially -trained medical officers. ■;■.'•

"A large number of the affected chil-. dren com© from tho country districts, and are being given treatment at tho centres which they otherwise could not possibly obtain. Nln addition to the medical and surgical treatment, the _ educational welfare of these children is being attended to. The Education Department has started a school with two teachoee at Trentham, and is about to establish one at Ko torua.