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Poliomyelitis(Polio)
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Amy Scholten, MPH DefinitionPoliomyelitis (polio) is a serious viral infection. It can damage the muscles and nerves. It can also be fatal. At this time, it is very rare in the Western world. This is due to vaccination. CausesPolio is caused by a certain virus. It is spreads from contact with:
The virus enters the body through the mouth. It travels into the bowels. It grows and spreads quickly. The virus can also travel through the blood and lymph. From there, it can attack and damage parts of the nervous system. This can lead to loss of muscle control and paralysis.
Risk FactorsThe risks for polio are:
SymptomsSome people may not have symptoms. In others, it may cause:
If the nervous system is involved, it may cause:
Some people have postpolio syndrome years after the first infection. DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms, and health and travel history. A physical exam will be done. Tests may be done to look for infection. They may be:
TreatmentThe goal of treatment is to ease symptoms and lower the risk of problems. It may involve:
PreventionThe best way to prevent polio is with a vaccine. A booster vaccine may be needed for those who have a high risk. This includes people traveling to places where polio is common. RESOURCES:Healthy Children—American Academy of Pediatrics https://www.healthychildren.org World Health Organization http://www.who.int CANADIAN RESOURCES:Alberta Health Services https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/ Public Health Agency of Canada https://www.canada.ca References:Polio eradication. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/polio. . Accessed February 5, 2021.
Poliomyelitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/poliomyelitis
Accessed February 2021.
Poliomyelitis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/enteroviruses/poliomyelitis. Accessed February 2021. Poliomyelitis (polio). World Health Organization website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed February 2021. Vashishtha VM, Kamath S. A brief history of vaccines against polio. Indian Pediatr. 2016; 7;53 Suppl 1:S20-S27. Last reviewed September 2020 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP Last Updated: 2/5/2021 | |