The Idaho Republican

Cases of Infantile Paralysis Has Appeared in This State

During the months of July and August and thus far in September of this year, infantile paralysis has been epidemic in the states of Oregon and Washington with numerous deaths resulting therefrom and also in cases that survive show paralysis of some muscles.

As Washington, Oregon and Idaho are closely associated, it is only natural that the disease should spread into this state. This is borne out by the fact that numerous cases have been reported, mostly in the northern part of the state, but some also in the central and southern part.

For this reason it is well for the people to know something about the disease and especially the care of persons afflicted with it.

At present very little is known of the causative agent, but it is supposed to be due to some micro-organism, causing a general infection first, later on localizing in the spinal cord, where it attacks the nerve roots, causing paralysis of the muscles supplied by these nerves. It is a well known fact that it is transmitted from one person to another, but the manner of transmission is not known.

The disease starts in the same manner as any fever condition, may simulate ordinary intestinal infection which lasts for a day or two or perhaps only a short very few hours, followed by paralysis, or loss of sensation, in some part of the body. This may partly clear up and in some instances it clears up entirely. Other cases result in paralysis of the respiratory center, death results.

The following precaution should be taken in all cases of children showing symptoms of fever diseases:

First: The sick child should be put to bed in a quiet darkened room and a physician called to diagnose the case. In the meantime the bowels should be cleaned out with a mild cathartic, the throat gargled with a warm salt water solution of one-half teaspoonful of ordinary table salt to a glass of hot water. This should be done twice a day. All excretions from the body should be disinfected or burned, especially handkerchiefs.

The patient should be kept as quiet as possible in order to protect the nervous system from becoming a focus of the infection. If the case is diagnosed as Infantile Paralysis, Rosenow's serum, which is obtained from the Mayo Clinic, may be used at this time. It must be used before the paralysis has developed and even when thus used, too much must not be expected of it, as its value has not been definitely determined, as yet. This may be obtained from the department of public welfare, Boise, Idaho, free of charge.

Until the cold weather definitely sets in, the well children should be kept out of doors, but away from public gatherings. Special attention should be paid to their bowels and to their food. The mouth and throat especially the teeth and tonsils, should be well taken care of. A little precaution taken at this time may prevent serious illness or death of your child.

Help the health authorities in preventing this disease from becoming epidemic in the state of Idaho.