The Differential Diagnosis of Acute Poliomyelitis

There are few infectious diseases so frequently incorrectly diagnosed as acute poliomyelitis. In a survey of this disease over a period of four years at the Herman Kiefer Hospital in Detroit, Gordon 1 found that in only half of the 446 patients admitted with a diagnosis of poliomyelitis was the diagnosis confirmed by clinical study and laboratory investigation. Such a finding means that there is need for improvement in diagnostic technic. By studying the mistakes and suggesting, when possible, how these mistakes can be avoided, the profession should be able to increase its diagnostic accuracy. With this purpose we record our observations during the epidemic of poliomyelitis in New York in 1931. There were 1,123 patients admitted to the Willard Parker Hospital with a diagnosis of poliomyelitis. After careful examination and observation, poliomyelitis was excluded in 113. These 113 patients form the material for our presentation. This of necessity limits