The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-08-31
VARYING SYMPTOMS OF
INTANTILE PARALYSIS
BY J. K. WHITE
state Sanitary Inspector

State Sanitary Inspector
In view of the general public inter
est and concern at the present time
in the development Of infantile par
alysis (anterior poliomyelits) in va
rious parts of the country the follow
ing information relative to this dis
ease compiled from a study of va
rious reliable authorities is announced.
There is no occasion for alarm in this
state, yet infantile paralysis is serious
! enough to demand careful attention.
Symptoms and Diagnois
The onset Of infantile paralysis is
very much like that of other acute
infectious diseases. There is nothing a
bout the first symptoms so character
istic as to make diagnosis certain until
the later development of paralysis
In most cases the onset is sudden
with vomiting, headache and pain in
! different parts of the body, accomp
anied by fever and restlessness.
Fever is the most constant symptom
and is probably present at one time or
another in all eases. The temperature
is usually 100 to 1o2 r., but may be
much higher.
In some eases the disease begins
acutely, apparently terminates in "a to
IS hours and, after Il few days, re-
sumes its original activity.
Certain other cases begin acutely and
terminate completely without producing
paralysis. These are the "absortive
cases - which are really diagnosed ex
cept in the presence Of epidemics.
There is no symptom OF anterior poll.
omyelitis which is present III all cases
except fever. The range of symptoms
is large but, in individual eases, ex-
tremely variable.
After fever the symptoms in the order
of the frequency of their occurrence are
pain, headache, stiff neck, constipation,
vomiting, tremor or twitching of mus
cles, restlessness or irritabilitN, drowsi-
ness, delri,m, sorethroat, sweats and
diarrhoea.
Profuse sweating-a symptom dwelt
upon i'll textbooks-has been rarely not
ed in recent epidemics.
The nervous symptoms are the most
characteristic in the disease and aid
most in diagnosis They are not con
slant, however, and may not appear un-
til the development of paralysis. Rest
lessness and irritability may appear
early and may end in delirium in adults
| ilti III COlN uISIpllS III NulIlltH. lie
restlessness is often followed by drow
siness.
Pain is the most constant of the ner-
vous symptoms. It usually appears a
long the spine. In the back Of the
some cases facial paralysis has follow
ed severe pains in the face.
With the cessation of the acute symp
4 ~, al h,t
pain on attempted motion and tender
ness on pressure remain.
Paralysis Sure Symptom
Paralysis, which is often the first
symptom upon which the diagnosis ear
be made, occurs at any time from one
to seven days from the onset of the
disease. In most eases, paralysis comes
from in two to four days. 1t most com
monty affects one or both legs, but i
may also affect the arms, the muscle.
of the back the abdomen and the face
In some cases, there may be no para ysi.
Of the limbs, the face, back or abdo
men only being affected.
In most cases the paralysis does moi
seem to progress after being first ob
served. In certain rare cases, however
the paralysis is ascending IN character
brain involvement.
AS to the outcome of the disease,
recent authority says: "A percentag
: Of persons, children particularly, di
during the acute stage of the dlseas,
> This percentage varies from D in Ger
tain epidcmics to 20 in others. Th
average death rate of many epidemic
y has been below 10 per cent.
Il "Of those who survive, IA part max
T complete recoveries, in which no cril
: ping whatever remains. This numbe
K is greater than is usually supposed
), "The remainder, and, unfortunately
$. not IA small number, suffer some degre
IS of permanent crippIing But even j
IS this class the extent to which recover
n from the paralysis may occur is great
Il In many instances the residue of para
k lysis may be so small as not seriousl
IS to- hamper the life activities of tn
individual; in others in whom it
. greater it may be relieved or minin
lied by suitable orthopedic treatment
"Even a severely parralyzed chill
who has made little recovery of funct
ion by the time the acute stage of tn
disease is over may go ON gaining fo
weeks, months, and even years, unit
in the end he has regained Il large pan
| of his losses. Fortunately only ii sma
\ number of the attacked are left severel
and helplessly crippled.
DANCING PARTY