Heine-Medina Disease

Heine-Medina disease (obsolete; J. Heine, 1800-1879, German orthopedic surgeon; K. O. Medin, 1847-1927, Swedish pediatrician) - polio, spinal infantile paralysis. This is an infectious disease caused by the polio virus and characterized by damage to the motor neurons of the spinal cord and brain.

The main symptoms are flaccid paralysis of the muscles of the limbs, mainly the legs. The disease is more common in children under 5 years of age. Transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Treatment is symptomatic, rehabilitation is carried out. Effective prevention is vaccination.

The name of the disease comes from the names of two doctors who first described this disease independently of each other at the end of the 19th century - German orthopedist Jacob Heine and Swedish pediatrician Carl Oscar Medina.



Heine-Medina disease: history and symptoms

Heine-Medina disease, also known as infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease that causes damage to the nervous system. This disease was named after two doctors: German orthopedic surgeon Joseph Heine and Swedish pediatrician Karl Osker Medina.

Story

Heine first described the disease in the 1840s. At the time, it was called “poliomyelitis,” which means “inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord.” In the 1890s, Medina studied the spread of the disease in Sweden and proposed that it was caused by infection.

Causes

Heine-Medina disease is caused by a virus that spreads through contact with infected people or objects. It most often affects children under 5 years of age.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Heine-Medina disease can range from mild to severe. These may include:

  1. fever;
  2. muscle and joint pain;
  3. headache;
  4. nausea and vomiting;
  5. neck stiffness;
  6. weakness or numbness in the limbs;
  7. loss of muscle control, including the breathing muscles.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Heine-Medin disease. Doctors may prescribe antiviral drugs, pain relievers, and physical therapy to help the patient regain muscle control. In some cases, surgery may be required.

Vaccines

Since the 1950s, vaccines have been developed to prevent Heine-Medina disease. They have been very effective in reducing the spread of the disease in developed countries, but still remain unaffordable for many people in developing countries.

conclusions

Heine-Medina disease is a serious illness that can cause many health problems for patients. Treatment of this disease requires a comprehensive approach, including antiviral drugs, pain relievers and physical therapy. Vaccination is the best way to prevent disease and should be available to all people around the world.