Polio: Meaning, Diagnosis and Overview

What is Polio?

Polio is a viral infection and spread from one person to other. It is highly infectious. It enters the body through mouth and multiplies in the intestine. It affects nervous system leading to paralysis. It mainly affects children under five years of age. It is also called polio, infantile paralysis, post-polio syndrome.

Diagnosis

FAQs prepared by doctor

Q1.  How can polio be treated?
Sadly, there is no cure for polio. Like many viral diseases, polio can only be prevented from entering the body by use of vaccines. Once the virus is the body, it can not be eliminated. The good news is that modern treatment can give you some medications such as antibiotics, pain reliever and a healthy diet which aid in giving you relief from the symptoms.

Q2.  What happens when the virus gets in the body?
Polio gets in the body through the mouth. Once it gets in the mouth, it spreads to the intestinal mucus and into the throat. After this, the virus corrupts body cells and begins to replicate. Within a week or two after entry, the virus replicates in high amounts and is absorbed in the blood stream. In some cases, the virus affects tissues in the brain resulting to paralysis.

Q3.  Why is oral polio vaccine better than injectable forms?
Oral polio drops is taken in intestine and provides a local immunity by curbing the virus in intestines. Injectable forms are less efficient than oral form. IPV should be used exclusively if the patient, or a household contact of the patient, is immunocompromised.

Q4.  My child has taken all the pulse polio doses, should he get routine Immunization also?
Yes. Pulse polio vaccination helps to protect your child against polio only. Routine
Immunization vaccines protect against other diseases also, such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles etc.  Polio vaccination in routine immunization can also be additionally given.