“PINK” DISEASE

Evening Star, Issue 20863, 5 August 1931, Page 5

“PINK” DISEASE

PUZZLES THE DOCTORS 'The outbreak on Tyneside of “ pink ” disease has a special interest in view of the rarity of this complaint (says the medical correspondent of the London ‘Morning Dost ’)• Until after the war it was unknown anywhere except in Australia, and even there it was regarded as a new disease in 1914. The first cases m England were reported in 1922. The disease then spread to the United States, where it has since been regarded as a new manifestation m children of a well-known adult disease. “ acrodynia,” hut this view is not generally held elsewhere. In Paris in 1928 and 1929 there was an epidemic, hut since adults were almost 'exclusively allccted the condition was probably not Pink disease, though the symptoms were very typiTho infection, for so some regarded it. is for the most part limited to children between the ages of nine mouths and two years, and generally starts with a feverish chill. The feet and the hands then become swollen, reddish-blue, and cold; an intensely irritable pink rash spreads over the body, and the lips and mouth are acutely inHamed; There is usually no fever, but the child becomes exceedingly irritable, and, later, acutely miserably—so does the mother, to such an extent as to have given rise to the remark that this constitutes a distinctive signal. ■ Tlie child cannot sleep at all, the muscles grow limp, and may waste, and food is absolutely refused. in Australia it has been suggested that Pink disease is caused by an inflammation of the nerve sheaths. The old idea, that it is one of the vitamin deficiency diseases has not been altogether abandoned; yeast lias been tried as a treatment, and also as a preventive in districts where there is an epidemic. The obvious interference with the circulation is probably due to nerve disturbance, and is not a primary cause of the very distressing symptoms. When no complications occur the death rate is fortunately very low. The chief dangers to he guarded against are the development of broncho pneumonia, the lighting up of a hidden consumptive infection, and the appearance of boils—all of which sequels threaten life, owing to the great weakness of the child. Special attention to feeding is vitally important in view. of the complete loss of appetite.