The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

August, 1951 The Health Bulletin 13most frequently used, which in one wayis unfortunate, as some people jvunp tothe conclusion that only very youngchildren are attacked. This is not so,for individuals of thirty, forty,or oldermay have the disease, although it istrue that the majority of patients arechildren.When polio is prevalent, one shouldkeep away from crowds and places ofpublic attendance, pay strict attentionto personal hygiene, avoid swimmingin waters that might be polluted, keepflies away from food, avoid sudden chillingfrom plunging into very cold wateron an excessively hot day, and avoidovertiring and extreme fatigue.If symptoms of headace, fever, orgastrointestinal disturbances should occur,then a physician should be notified.If possible, one should avoid tonsiland adenoid operations during epidemics.Perfect health is not proof of protectionagainst infantile paralysis, but arested body is good insiu^ance.One should remember that the chanceof contacting the disease in relation tothe total population is small, so peopleshould not become fearful and spreadpanic.Most cases of poliomyelitis are nonparalyzing.There is no specific means of wardingoff poliomyelitis. During an epidemicmany carriers and persons with mild,imdiagnosable forms of poliomyelitis infectionunintentionally and unknowinglyspread the virus. There is no practicalway to detect these carriers. All thatcan be done is to prevent unnecessarycontact with others. It must be rememberedthat even rigid confinement of achild to his home, however, will not alwaysprevent the disease from beingcarried to him.There is no known drug that willactually cure infantile paralysis. Theuse of serums is apparently of no value.There is no magical or secret method oftreatment that has any merit. Every bitof information gained by every reputablephysician is immediately made generallyavailable. Such knowledge is publishednot only in scientific articles, buteven in newspapers and popular magazines,and is broadcast to the peoplethemselves for their use.On the appearance of the very firstsuspicious symptoms of the disease, suchas fever, headache, stiff neck or legpains, a physician should be called, becausehe might be able to help preventserious complications of poliomyelitisand reduce the crippling that is a commonresult.Treatment should be started at once,preferably in the isolation departmentof the hospital, where the necessaryequipment and the specially trainednurses are available.As soon as the muscle soreness andspasm have been relieved, the affectedmuscles must be re-educated. In thehands of the skilled physician andphysiotherapist much can be done toreturn patients to full use of all theirmuscles, so that there will be a minimumof permanent injury.The ultimate success of treatment ofparalysis depends not alone on thephysician, nurse, physical therapist andhospital staff, but also on the patientand the patient's family. Infantileparalysis, even though it may impair themuscles, does not affect the intelligence.The physician and the patient have thetask of improving the physical state andreadjusting the mental state. Weakenedmuscles in an arm or leg need not meandefeat. They need not even offer a serioushandicap. Success and a happy anduseful life are just as possible for theinfantile paralysis victim as for anyoneelse. Improper attitudes on the part ofthe patient or the patient's too solicitousfamily may lead to maladjustments ofpersonality than can be even greaterhandicaps than physical crippling.Cases of headache, fever, arm or legpain, or stiff neck should be seen by aphysician who will decide whether ornot to send the patient to the hospitalwhere isolation can be adequate, wherea spinal punctui'e can be done if necessary,and where respirators are availablewhen needed, and where cooperation betweenphysicians, orthopaedists, physiotherapists,and nurses can best be