ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3846, 16 December 1936, Page 7

ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS

BETTER KNOWN AS INFANTILE PARALYSIS. ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC. (Contributed by the Department of Health.) Acute poliomyelitis is the scientific name of the disease which is commonly known as infantile paralysis. However, this pouular designation is somewhat of a misnomer, for the disease is not confined to infants, and paralysis occurs in a comparatively small proportion of those attacked. Throughout the world from 1880 to the present day outbreaks of poliomyelitis have occurred, and in view of its prevalence in Australia attention is drawn to the following information. The weight of present opinion inclines to the view that poliomyelitis is exclusively a human disease, and is spread by personal contact, which includes all the usual opportunities, direct or indirect, for the transference of bodily discharges from person to person, having in mind the possibility that the infection may occur through contaminated food. SYMPTOMS. The early symptoms may simulate any of the indefinite diseases of childhood. In the presence of an epidemic it is well to regard children having fever without a definite proved diagnosis as possible cases of poliomyelitis. Still there is a grouping of symptoms which is very suggestive—the continuation of fever, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, and irritability, especially when combined with headache; a transient flushing of the face, abnormal sweating, or retention of urine are enough to make tentative diagnosis of poliomyelitis, if defined cases are occurring in the vicinity. Such symptoms as outlined should put one on guard, so that the family physician may be called before the disease has reached the paralytic stage. TREATMENT. It behoves all who come in contact with cases of poliomyelitis to strictly carry out all instructions of the medical attendant and health authorities as to isolation and the precautionary measures to be observed. As it is a disease •which often brings disaster in its train, no personal precautions can be too great to prevent its spread to others. Regarding the treatment of individual cases, the importance of securing medical advice at the earliest opportunity cannot be too greatly stressed. Prompt and expert treatment of affected groups of muscles is often efficacious in limiting the extent of paralysis and bringing about satisfactory recovery. The best chances of recovering from paralysis sometimes associated with poliomyelitis is skilful after-care under the direction of a physician.