Is Polio back? Here's what you need to know

Polio has been eradicated in nearly every country, however even today the last strain of Polio can be found in Pakistan and Afghanistan. But in the rest of the world, it is under control owing to the strong immunization program, which is considered essential in polio prevention. However, you do not need to be alarmed about the polio virus, but it is important that you must know everything about Polio to stay updated and minimize the chances of infection. So let us tell you more about Polio and how Polio is caused and how it can be prevented. 

Polio – a highly contagious disease

Polio, i.e., Poliomyelitis, also known as infantile paralysis, is a severe viral infectious disease of the nervous system that starts with some minor and general symptoms like fever, nausea, headache, fatigue, and muscle pains and turns into much serious and permanent paralysis of muscles in one or more limbs, throat and even chest muscles. The paralysis situation affects less than one percent of infected individuals. Sadly the infection still has no cure, leaving the infected with a life long disability. More than half of the poliovirus cases occur in kids under the age of five. However, thanks to polio vaccines and eradication programmes, it has been eliminated worldwide.

How does Polio spread?

Polio is caused by a virus that spreads in the environment when it enters the surroundings through the feces of an individual who is infected. Owing to poor sanitation, this virus spreads easily from feces into the water supply or by touch or cross contamination through food. So as we explained, it is highly contagious. One must note that direct contact with an infected person with the virus can cause Polio. The time a virus enters a healthy person's body, it starts infecting the cells of the throat and intestine and stays within it. After that, it moves from the intestine to the blood and spreads to all body parts.

Risk factors of Polio

The population at the highest risk of getting poliovirus infection is population that is not vaccinated against the disease. However, there are many other poliovirus risk factors like:

1. People with immunodeficiency like HIV or cancer
2. Very young people
3. Pregnant females
4. People under extreme stress and are exposed to polio patient
5. Polio patient caregivers
6. Lab personnel working in close contact with the live polio virus
7. Travel areas where Polio is still common

What are the symptoms of Polio?

Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus that attacks the nervous system of an individual. As per recent reports New York, London, and Jerusalem are still detecting poliovirus, and many are not worried about how an eradicated disease suddenly comes back. Polio is generally transmitted from person to person by fecal or oral transmission and which highlights the requirement of basic hygiene that includes even the simplest hand washing habit. Everybody should be well versed with some initial polio symptoms as the signs and symptoms of Polio can also be from one to ten days can; these can be flu-like fever, Sore throat, headache, vomiting, and Fatigue. It is advised to consult a doctor to get tested at an early stage and to get treated . Patients who do not show polio symptoms fall into two groups i.e.

1. Non-paralytic polio, also known as abortive polio infections, involves the growth of flu-like symptoms, including fever, sore throat, headache, malaise, neck and back, and muscle stiffness. In addition, there are rare but potentially severe symptoms with complications that can develop with paralytic Polio.
2. After a week, the symptoms can be termed paralytic, including severe muscle aches and spasms, loss of reflexes, and paralysis. Paralysis can occur suddenly and can also be worsened on one side of the body; breathing may become inhibited. This condition of Polio comprises all forms of poliovirus that infect the central nervous system.

When to call a doctor?

Polio can also be recognized by the symptoms like neck, back stiffness, abnormal reflexes, and trouble with swallowing and breathing; it is advised to visit the doctor as he will suspect the disease with the help of laboratory tests that check the polio virus by examining throat secretions, stool samples, etc. Any individual who has any above-listed risks or symptoms are listed above, especially for unvaccinated kids or adults who may have been exposed to Polio; patients or traveled recently to polio-endemic areas should seek medical guidance as soon as possible.

How will a doctor Diagnose Polio?

A doctor may check and make a preliminary diagnosis to know the main causes, such as the patient's lack of vaccination or if they are in contact with polio patients or experiencing polio symptoms like muscle aches, stiffness, difficulty in limb movements, etc. Some specific diagnoses are done by taking samples of throat mucus, stool, and cerebrospinal fluid. Some laboratory tests can also be done by the doctor to detect the virus in the samples for a definitive diagnosis and to know if the person is making antibodies against the polio virus or not.

What is the medical treatment of poliovirus, or is surgery can be done?

There is no treatment to cure Polio once an individual is infected. The key treatment is to diagnose early and start supportive treatments like bed rest, pain control, good nutrition, and physical therapy so the deformities can be prevented from occurring over time and muscle loss can also be prevented.in some cases, patients will require extensive support like breathing assistance and special diets if they find difficulty swallowing. However, many surgical techniques have been used to treat polio patients. Some patients who undergo surgery either had treatment or failed medical treatments and are in the post-polio syndrome stage.

Prognosis of Polio

The prognosis of Polio depends upon the extent of damage caused by the poliovirus to patients. Many patients have few symptoms and have an excellent prognosis. On the other hand, in a few cases, the prognosis worsens when patients begin to show symptoms of paralysis .There are cases when many patients develop more severe polio symptoms that progress to lifelong disabilities or even death.

 More about post-polio syndrome

Post-polio syndrome, i.e., PPS, is a condition that affects people who had Polio in the past. There are many people who had polio virus and had fought off the infection without knowing that they were infected. Some with the condition would have had paralysis, muscle weakness, and shrinking of muscles; however, these problems would have either gone over overtime in weeks or months or else remained the same for years. Post-polio syndrome is a stage where some polio symptoms develop to get worse many years or decades after the original polio infection. This post-polio syndrome can include many symptoms that generally develop gradually.

1. Muscle weakness
2. Persistent fatigue
3. Shrinking muscles
4. Muscle and joint pain
5. Sleep apnea

 These post-polio syndrome symptoms gradually worsen over many years but happen slowly, and treatment can help the slowdown. They are rarely life-threatening, but in a few cases experiencing breathing and swallowing problems can lead to serious issues like chest infections.

Polio vaccine and prevention

Polio is caused by poliovirus with no symptoms or mild symptoms, but sometimes it can be life-threatening. There are still polio cases worldwide; however, the cases are reduced. Therefore, the only way to prevent Polio is to take the polio vaccine on time. Usually, vaccination is done in childhood; if you get it and don't know, just confirm with your healthcare provider about it. Healthcare providers recommend below listed polio shots in childhood:

• The first shot was at the age of two months.
• Second shot at the age of four months
• Third shot between ages of six to eighteen months
• Booster shot between the ages of four to six years.

If you have not been vaccinated for Polio in childhood, then it is recommended to get vaccinated for sure as an adult.

• Two doses should be taken in one to two months.
• The third dose should be taken six to twelve months after the second dose.

Two types of polio vaccines

1. Oral polio vaccine (OPV)

The first one is the Oral polio vaccine that is used by many counties to protect against the disease. There are different types of oral poliovirus vaccines, which can contain one or a combination of two or more types of attenuated vaccines—each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

2. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)

Another is an inactivated poliovirus vaccine that protects against all types of poliovirus. It does not contain a live virus; thus, individuals who receive it do not shed the virus and cannot infect others. However, IPV does not stop the virus transmission, and OPV is used when a polio outbreak needs to be controlled. Once eradicated after that, OPV is required to stop or prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

Key facts about Polio that you need to know

1. Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that was once the main cause of paralysis in children. To prevent Polio, every child should be vaccinated as recommended. Below are some important facts about Polio that everyone should know:
2.  Polio is a highly contagious disease that spreads from person to person.
3. Polio can strike at any stage of life, but infants and young children are more prone to it.
4. Most people infected by poliovirus have polio symptoms and are unaware of the illness.
5.  There is no cure for Polio, but safe and effective polio vaccines are available. If the virus cannot find an unvaccinated person to infect, it will die out as it cannot survive for a long time outside the human body.

 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who gets Polio?

Polio is common in infants and young children and occurs owing to poor hygiene. The disease is predominately spread through feces.

2. What can happen if a child gets Polio?

Polio is caused by poliovirus and can lead to serious illnesses that can also include paralysis. Sadly one out of a hundred polio patients will be paralyzed.

3. At what age should a child be immunized against Polio?

To protect from poliovirus, children need multiple doses at specific ages and stages recommended above.

4. Can Polio come back in old age?

Post-polio syndrome comprises signs and symptoms that appear decades after the initial polio illness. These signs generally appear between thirty to forty years after having Polio.

5. Does polio affect the Brain?

 Poliovirus attacks specific neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord.

6. How long is an individual able to spread Polio?

Patients are most infectious from about 7 to 10 days before and after the onset of polio symptoms. Patients are contagious as long as the virus is present in their throats and feces, as it persists in the throat for about one week and is excreted in the feces for many weeks or even months.

 Infants and young children need to keep their vaccinations up to date because it is the only way to protect them from Polio. Some countries are still battling Polio; thus, every place requires a polio vaccine for children to eradicate it. If you find someone with the above-listed symptoms of poliovirus, then please suggest they call a healthcare provider immediately.