Key result
Bulbar paralysis in poliomyelitis is linked to higher fatality, particularly in patients over 14 years.
Observational
Bulbar paralysis and older age (>14 years) are associated with higher case fatality in poliomyelitis.
May guide prognosis by age and bulbar involvement in poliomyelitis; leaves open relevance to modern supportive care.
In recent years there has been a reduction in the case fatality of poliomyelitis. In some degree this reduction may be related to better reporting of nonparalytic cases. Improved methods of treatment, particularly artificial respiration and more highly organized medical care, may also have contributed to the decline.1Nevertheless, the disease is still a cause of many deaths.2Epidemiological investigation of some of the specific factors that influence fatality reveals an association with clinical type and age.3Clinical infection is most lethal among those patients with bulbar paralysis, particularly patients over 14 years of age, and the disease is least fatal in those patients under 5 years who do not have bulbar symptoms. The bulbar form of poliomyelitis includes involvement of cranial nerves as well as of medullary centers.4It is the latter group that is responsible for most deaths.5Apparently, involvement of vital medullary
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Morris Siegel (1955) conducted an observational in Poliomyelitis. Bulbar paralysis and age vs. Non-bulbar symptoms was evaluated on Case fatality. Bulbar paralysis in poliomyelitis was associated with higher fatality, particularly in patients over 14 years of age, while the disease was least fatal in patients under 5 years without bulbar symptoms.
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