1.

Polio

Facts about Polio

Polio or poliomyelitis also term as infantile paralysis.

Polio is caused by the poliovirus which is highly contagious virus.

The poliovirus consists of an RNA genome enclosed in a protein shell called a capsid.

Polio viruses only infects humans.

Polio causes spinal and respiratory paralysis.

Polio viruses survive only in humans, lives in the throat and in the intestines.

There are three types of polio viruses; types 1, types 2, and types 3.

Type I is responsible for about 85% of all paralytic infections.

Polio virus is spread through contact with the feces or by droplet spread in a sneeze or cough or by an
infected person who has contaminated food or fluids by touching or tasting them.

There is no cure for polio once a person becomes infected.

Around 1 in 200 cases of polio lead to irreversible paralysis.

The vast majority of polio infections present no symptoms.

Around half of polio patients go on to have post-polio syndrome.

The history of polio dates back about 6,000 years.

Polio was given its first clinical description in 1789 by the British physician Michael Underwood, and
recognized as a condition by Jakob Heine in 1840.

In 1928, Philip Drinker and Louie Shaw developed the "iron lung" to save the lives of those left paralysed
by polio and unable to breathe.

The number of polio cases worldwide has fallen by 99% since 1988.

By 1988, polio had disappeared from the US, UK, Australia and much of Europe but remained prevalent
in more than 125 countries.
In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to eradicate the disease completely by the
year 2000.

In 2002, WHO certified the European region polio-free.

In 2012, Polio remained officially endemic in four countries - Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and India.

Now Polio has been eradicated in every country of the world except for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

If polio is completely eradicated, it will be only the third disease to have been beaten, after smallpox and
rinderpest.

Types of Polio

Non-Paralytic Polio (minor)

Paralytic Polio (major)

1.Non-Paralytic Polio (Minor):- It is also called abortive poliomyelitis, leads to flu-like symptoms that last
for a few days or weeks. It accounts for 80-90% of apparent cases of polio infection, chiefly in young
children.

Symptoms

Fever

Sore throat

Headache

Vomiting

Fatigue

Back and neck pain

Arm and leg stiffness

Muscle tenderness and spasms

Meningitis - an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain

malaise

These symptoms last about 10-20 days and they completely resolve .
2.Paralytic Polio (Major):- Paralytic polio is severe form of polio in which the polio virus enters motor
neurons where it replicates and destroys the cells and cause full or partial paralysis. These cells are
normally in the spinal cord, brain stem, or motor cortex - an area of the brain important in controlling
movements.

Paralytic Polio may also be classified as:

a).Spinal Polio - attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord and causes paralysis in the arms and legs and
breathing problems

b).Bulbar Polio - affects the neurons responsible for sight, taste, swallowing, and breathing

c).Bulbospinal Polio - symptoms of both spinal and bulbar polio

Symptoms

Although paralytic polio symptoms often start in a similar way to non-paralytic polio, but later increasing
to more severe such as:

A loss of muscle reflexes

Severe muscle pain and spasms

Flaccid paralysis - Loose or floppy limbs that are often worse on one side of the body

Breathing may become inhibited or nonfunctional

Post-Polio Syndrome

Post-polio syndrome occurs several years after polio has passed. It describes a cluster of symptoms that
affect up to 50 percent of all polio patients. Generally, Post-polio syndrome occurs after 30 to 40 years
after an acute polio infection. There is no cure of Post-polio syndrome, but it is not infectious or
contagious.

Symptoms
Swallowing and breathing difficulties

Suffering in colder temperatures

Muscle and joint pain and weakness that slowly progresses

Muscle atrophy (shrinking)

Exhaustion for no reason

Sleep-related problems such as apnea (stopping breathing)

Concentration and memory difficulties

Mood swings and depression

Risk Factors of Polio

Paralysis - Many people with non-paralytic polio make a full recovery while those with paralytic polio
generally end up with permanent paralysis.

Neck and back stiffness,

Abnormal reflexes,

Trouble with swallowing and breathing

Death

Causes and Transmission of Polio

Once the virus has entered an individual, it infects the cells of the throat and intestine. It takes over the
host's cellular machinery and begins to replicate. The virus stays within the intestines, rapidly dividing
for a week, before spreading to other areas of the body. Eventually, the virus moves into the
bloodstream where it can spread to the entire body. Following are the causes of polio infection:-

Direct contact with a infected person infected

Contact with the feces of an infected individual

Through cough or sneeze droplets

Areas with poor sanitation, the virus easily spreads from feces into the water supply or into food.

Victims of Polio

Polio most commonly affects children under the age of 5 years.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to polio, but it does not appear to affect the unborn child.

Person having a weak immune system.

Anyone who has not been immunized against polio .

Person working in a laboratory where live poliovirus is kept.

Treatmentsof Polio

Once the virus that causes polio has infected a person, there is no treatment that will cure polio.
Following early diagnosis and supportive treatment prevent deformities from occurring over time can
help reduce the long-term symptoms due to muscle loss.

Physical therapy

Bed Rest,

Good nutrition

Breathing assistance

Splints and/or leg braces

Iron lung therapy

Prevention of Polio

Polio vaccinations ;Make sure children are vaccinated.

Wash your hands often.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with uncleaned hands.

Eat safe foods and drink safe beverages. A avoid food and drinks that could be contaminated with the
feces of a person infected with polio.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

Try to avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with people who
are sick.

Polio Vaccinations

There are two vaccines available to fight polio:-

1.Inactivated poliovirus (IPV):- IPV consists of a series of injections that start two months after birth and
continue until the child is 4-6 years old. The vaccine is made from inactive poliovirus, but it is very safe
and effective and cannot cause polio.

2). Oral polio vaccine (OPV):- OPV is created from attenuated form of poliovirus. It is low cost, easy to
administer, and gives an excellent level of immunity. OPV, however, has been known to revert to a
dangerous form of poliovirus that is able to paralyze the patient.