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Surveillance of poliomyelitis in the United Kingdom. 1993

D M Salisbury, and N T Begg
Department of Health, London, UK.

Routine surveillance of poliomyelitis is undertaken through statutory notification, laboratory reporting, and examination of death certificates where poliomyelitis is mentioned. All health districts report weekly and include zero reporting of poliomyelitis in their returns. UK weekly reports on poliomyelitis are forwarded to WHO Europe. There have been no wild virus cases for over a decade. Since August 1991, there has been active surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children under 16 years. All Consultant Paediatricians are contacted monthly through the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit and asked for reports of any cases of AFP. These are then investigated further. The study protocol specifies the investigations that are required for AFP cases, including stool samples for virology. AFP rates from this surveillance, approximately one per hundred thousand children under 16 years, provide a valuable guide for industrialised countries; consideration is being given to extending this scheme into the adult population. In 1992, a 44-year-old man died after sudden onset of AFP. Histology suggested poliomyelitis, and intensive investigations were undertaken to establish a diagnosis. The role of AFP surveillance and investigation of suspected cases are discussed in the light of the need to establish that poliomyelitis has been eliminated.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D010372 Pediatrics A medical specialty concerned with maintaining health and providing medical care to children from birth to adolescence.
D011051 Poliomyelitis An acute infectious disease of humans, particularly children, caused by any of three serotypes of human poliovirus (POLIOVIRUS). Usually the infection is limited to the gastrointestinal tract and nasopharynx, and is often asymptomatic. The central nervous system, primarily the spinal cord, may be affected, leading to rapidly progressive paralysis, coarse FASCICULATION and hyporeflexia. Motor neurons are primarily affected. Encephalitis may also occur. The virus replicates in the nervous system, and may cause significant neuronal loss, most notably in the spinal cord. A rare related condition, nonpoliovirus poliomyelitis, may result from infections with nonpoliovirus enteroviruses. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp764-5) Infantile Paralysis,Polio,Poliomyelitis, Nonpoliovirus,Poliomyelitis, Preparalytic,Encephalitis, Polio,Epidemic Acute Poliomyelitis,Polio Encephalitis,Poliomyelitis Infection,Poliomyelitis, Acute,Acute Poliomyelitis,Acute Poliomyelitis, Epidemic,Infection, Poliomyelitis,Infections, Poliomyelitis,Nonpoliovirus Poliomyelitis,Paralysis, Infantile,Poliomyelitides, Preparalytic,Poliomyelitis Infections,Poliomyelitis, Epidemic Acute,Polios,Preparalytic Poliomyelitis
D011159 Population Surveillance Ongoing scrutiny of a population (general population, study population, target population, etc.), generally using methods distinguished by their practicability, uniformity, and frequently their rapidity, rather than by complete accuracy. Surveillance, Population
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003253 Consultants Individuals referred to for expert or professional advice or services. Advisory Services,Services, Advisory,Advisory Service,Consultant,Service, Advisory
D003625 Data Collection Systematic gathering of data for a particular purpose from various sources, including questionnaires, interviews, observation, existing records, and electronic devices. The process is usually preliminary to statistical analysis of the data. Data Collection Methods,Dual Data Collection,Collection Method, Data,Collection Methods, Data,Collection, Data,Collection, Dual Data,Data Collection Method,Method, Data Collection,Methods, Data Collection

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