Polio: A Disorder of the Nervous System

Poliomyelitis, known as polio, is a dangerous, contagious viral illness that can lead to paralysis, trouble breathing and even death if it reaches its most severe form.

Polio has been mostly eliminated from large areas of the world for decades. The last known case of naturally occurring polio in the United States took place in 1979. However, despite worldwide efforts, cases continue to affect people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and certain African countries. For this reason, people from other nations traveling to these countries should take extra precautions.  

 

Symptoms and Complications

 

Most people who are infected don’t become sick and never realize they have polio at all. In about 1 in 4 cases, polio will present symptoms that are considered non-paralytic. These are generally similar to the flu virus, and can include the following symptoms for 2 to 5 days:

• Sore throat
• Fever or tiredness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Stomach pain

These symptoms usually go away on their own. However, in rarer cases, polio virus can lead to paralytic polio, the most serious form of the disease. This can affect either the spinal cord or the brainstem, or both in some cases.

 

Early symptoms are often similar to non-paralytic polio, but after about a week, new symptoms can appear:

• Loss of reflexes
• Extreme weakness or muscle aches
• Paresthesia: Feelings of pins and needles in the legs
• Meningitis: An infection of the brain or spinal cord covering, which occurs in about 1 in 25 cases of polio
• Paralysis: An inability to move or a severe weakness in the arms or legs, often worse on one side of the body. In children who survive polio, some of these conditions or related disabilities may be permanent

Several different symptoms are associated with post-polio syndrome, a cluster of disabling symptoms that can affect people up to 35 years after they’ve had polio.

 

Transmission and Risk Factors

 

Poliovirus is only spread through humans, but it is very contagious. It can be spread through any personal contact. The virus lives in the throat and intestines, and can enter through the mouth. It can be spread through feces or through mucus droplets via sneezes or coughs. Infected people can spread the virus before and after they see active symptoms, and the virus can live in feces for weeks.

Risk factors for polio include:

• Traveling to an area where polio is common or a recent outbreak has occurred
• An unhealthy immune system, or extreme stress or activity that depresses the immune system
• A recent tonsillectomy (tonsil removal)
• Living with someone shedding poliovirus

 

Treatment

 

There is no cure for polio, and treatment focuses on improving comfort and preventing complications during recovery. It includes bed rest, pain relievers, moderate exercise, a nutritious diet and, for people with breathing issues, portable ventilators.

 

Polio Prevention

 

The most effective prevention method for polio is the polio vaccine. Most children in the U.S. receive four doses of a vaccine called inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at these standard ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• Between 6 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old

This vaccine is 90 percent effective after two shots, and 99 percent effective after three. It’s completely safe, even for people with weaker immune systems, and cannot cause polio—though there can be some redness or other mild side effects at the injection site. Some people undergo allergic reactions to the vaccine, in which case you should receive immediate medical assistance.

 

Revere Health Neurology specialists treat patients with a variety of neurological disorders.

 

Sources:

 

“Polio.” The Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polio/basics/definition/con-20030957

“What Is Polio?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/polio/about/