Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus lives in an infected person’s throat and intestines. It is most often spread by contact with the stool of an infected person. You can also get it from droplets if an infected person sneezes or coughs. It can contaminate food and water if people do not wash their hands.
Most people have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include fever, fatigue, nausea, headache, flu-like symptoms, stiff neck and back, and pain in the limbs. A few people will become paralyzed. There is no treatment to reverse the paralysis of polio.
Some people who’ve had polio develop post-polio syndrome (PPS) years later. Symptoms include tiredness, new muscle weakness, and muscle and joint pain. There is no way to prevent or cure PPS.
The polio vaccine has wiped out polio in the United States and most other countries.
Prevention
Polio immunization (vaccine) effectively prevents poliomyelitis in most people (immunization is over 90% effective).
Causes
POLIO IS A DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTION WITH THE POLIOVIRUS. THE VIRUS SPREADS BY:
- Direct person-to-person contact
- Contact with infected mucus or phlegm from the nose or mouth
- Contact with infected feces
The virus enters through the mouth and nose, multiplies in the throat and intestinal tract, and then is absorbed and spread through the blood and lymph system. The time from being infected with the virus to developing symptoms of disease (incubation) ranges from 5 to 35 days (average 7 to 14 days). Most people do not develop symptoms.
RISKS INCLUDE:
- Lack of immunization against polio
- Travel to an area that has had a polio outbreak
As a result of a global vaccination campaign over the past 25 years, polio has largely been eliminated. The disease still exists in some countries in Africa and Asia, with outbreaks occurring in groups of people who have not been vaccinated. For an updated list of these countries, visit the website: www.polioeradication.org.
Symptoms
There are 3 basic patterns of polio infection: subclinical infections, nonparalytic, and paralytic. Most people have subclinical infection, or may not have any symptoms.
SUBCLINICAL INFECTION SYMPTOMS
- General discomfort or uneasiness (malaise)
- Headache
- Red throat
- Slight fever
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
People with subclinical polio infection might not have symptoms, or mild symptoms may last 72 hours or less.
Clinical poliomyelitis affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and is divided into nonparalytic and paralytic forms. It may occur after recovery from a subclinical infection.
Diagnosis
DURING A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MAY FIND:
- Abnormal reflexes
- Back stiffness
- Difficulty lifting the head or legs when lying flat on the back
- Stiff neck
- Trouble bending the neck
TESTS THAT MAY BE DONE INCLUDE:
- Cultures of throat washings, stools, or spinal fluid
- Spinal tap and examination of the spinal fluid (CSF examination) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Test for levels of antibodies to the polio virus
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to control symptoms while the infection runs its course. There is no specific treatment for this viral infection.
People with severe cases may need lifesaving measures, especially help with breathing.
SYMPTOMS ARE TREATED BASED ON HOW SEVERE THEY ARE. TREATMENT MAY INCLUDE:
- Antibiotics for urinary tract infections
- 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
Recovery
The outlook depends on the form of the disease (subclinical, or paralytic) and the body area affected. Most of the time, complete recovery is likely if the spinal cord and brain are not involved.
Brain or spinal cord involvement is a medical emergency that may result in paralysis or death (usually from respiratory problems).
Disability is more common than death. Infection that is located high in the spinal cord or in the brain increases the risk of breathing problems.
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