In 1916, a large polio outbreak in the United Stated spurred researchers to find treatments for the disease. What resulted was one of the most recognized symbols of polio’s long and difficult history.
The iron lung—About the size and weight of a small car, the iron lung was a sealed chamber with an electrically driven bellows that regulated breathing. People with polio were encased in the metal chambers for months, years, and sometimes for life.
A number of other therapies, including rigid braces and body casts, were also tried
in an effort to prevent deformities. However, these treatments often did more harm than good.
Then in the 1940s, an Australian army nurse—Sister Elizabeth Kenny—began treating afflicted limbs with massage, exercise, and warm, moist heat. While Kenny’s therapy could improve mobility, it could not reverse permanent paralysis.
Current Treatment Options
Because no cure for polio exists, the focus is on increasing comfort, speeding recovery, and preventing complications. Today, supportive treatments for polio include:
- Antibiotics for secondary infection
- Analgesics for pain
- Portable ventilators for breathing
- Moderate exercise
- A nutritious diet
No comments:
Post a Comment