Polio

Alternative Names

Polio, Infantile paralysis, Post-polio syndrome

What is Polio

Polio is an infectious disease that caused by a virus. It was more prevalent in the United States. The disease caused severe illness in thousands of people each year before the vaccine was introduced in 1955.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of polio develop very slowly. The main symptoms are new muscle weakness, fatigue and pain in the muscles and joints. Muscles that had nerve damage from polio may get weak and waste away due to this disease. With polio, muscles that you did not realize had been affected by polio may have weakness.

Some people suffering from polio also have problems with swallowing, breathing, sleeping and tolerating cold temperatures.

Possible complications

Polio may cause temporary or permanent muscle paralysis, disability and deformities of the hips, ankles and feet. Most deformities can be corrected with surgery and physical therapy, but these treatments may not be options in developing nations where polio is still endemic. As a result, children who survive polio may spend their lives with severe disabilities.

What causes

The disease is caused by poliovirus resides only in humans and enters the environment in the feces of someone who is infected. Poliovirus can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route, especially in areas where sanitation is inadequate.

It can also be spread through contaminated water and food or through direct contact with someone infected with the virus. Polio is so contagious that anyone living with a recently infected person is likely to become infected, too. People carrying the poliovirus can spread the virus for weeks in their feces.

Prevention

This disease can be prevented by polio vaccine (an inactivated polio vaccine) that contains no live poliovirus. Polio vaccine is beneficial in producing immunity to the poliovirus and protection from paralytic polio. About 90% or more of polio vaccine recipients develop protective antibodies to all three poliovirus types after 2 doses and at least 99% are immune following three doses.

Treatment

The main aim of the treatment is to manage symptoms while the infection runs its course. People with severe cases may need lifesaving measures, especially breathing help.

Symptoms of polio are treated based on their severity. Treatment may include the followings:

• Antibiotics for urinary tract infections
• Medications (such as bethanechol) for urinary retention
• Moist heat (heating pads, warm towels) to reduce muscle pain and spasms
• Painkillers to reduce headache, muscle pain, and spasms (narcotics are not usually given because they increase the risk of breathing trouble)
• Physical therapy, braces or corrective shoes or orthopedic surgery to help recover muscle strength and function