What is polio?

Polio (also known as poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious

disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.
Children younger than 5 years old are more likely to contract
the virus than any other group.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 200
polio infections will result in permanent paralysis. However,
thanks to the global polio eradication initiative in 1988, the
following regions are now certified polio-free:
• Americas
• Europe
• Western Pacific
• Southeast Asia
The polio vaccine was developed in 1953 and made
available in 1957. Since then cases of polio have dropped in
United States.
But polio is still persistent in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and
Nigeria. Eliminating polio will benefit the world in terms of
health and economy. The eradication of polio can save at
least $40–50 billion over the next 20 years.

What are the symptoms of

polio?
It’s estimated that 95 to 99 percent of people who contract
poliovirus are asymptomatic (without any symptom). This is
known as subclinical polio. Even without symptoms, people
infected with poliovirus can still spread the virus and cause
infection in others.
Non-paralytic polio
Signs and symptoms of non-paralytic polio can last from one
to 10 days. These signs and symptoms can be flu-like and
can include:
• fever
• sore throat
• headache
• vomiting
• fatigue
• meningitis
Non-paralytic polio is also known as abortive polio.
Paralytic polio
About 1 percent of polio cases can develop into paralytic
polio. Paralytic polio leads to paralysis in the spinal cord
(spinal polio), brainstem (bulbar polio), or both (bulbospinal
polio).
Initial symptoms are similar to non-paralytic polio. But after a
week, more severe symptoms will appear. These symptoms
include:
• loss of reflexes
• severe spasms and muscle pain
• loose and floppy limbs, sometimes on just one side of
the body
• sudden paralysis, temporary or permanent
• deformed limbs, especially the hips, ankles, and feet
It’s rare for full paralysis to develop. Less than 1 percent of
all polio cases will result in permanent paralysis. In 5–10
percent of the polio paralysis cases, the virus will attack the
muscles that help you breathe and cause death.
Post-polio syndrome
It’s possible for polio to return even after you’ve recovered.
This can occur after 15 to 40 years. Common symptoms of
post-polio syndrome (PPS) are:
 • continuing muscle and joint weakness
• muscle pain that gets worse
• becoming easily exhausted or fatigued
• muscle wasting, also called muscle atrophy
• trouble breathing and swallowing
• sleep apnea, or sleep-related breathing problems
• low tolerance of cold temperatures
• new onset of weakness in previously uninvolved
muscles
• depression
• trouble with concentration and memory
Talk to your doctor if you’ve had polio and are starting to see
these symptoms. It’s estimated that 25 to 50 percent of
people who survived polio will get PPS. PPS can’t be caught
by others having this disorder. Treatment involves
management strategies to improve your quality of life and
reduce pain or fatigue.

How does the poliovirus

infect someone?
As a highly contagious virus, polio transmits through contact
with infected feces. Objects like toys that have come near
infected feces can also transmit the virus. Sometimes it can
transmit through a sneeze or a cough, as the virus lives in
the throat and intestines. This is less common.
People living in areas with limited access to running water or
flush toilets often contract polio from drinking water
contaminated by infected human waste. According to the
Mayo Clinic, the virus is so contagious that anyone living
with someone who has the virus can catch it too.
Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems
— such as those who are HIV-positive — and young
children are the most susceptible to the poliovirus.
If you have not been vaccinated, you can increase your risk
of contracting polio when you:
• travel to an area that has had a recent polio outbreak
• take care of or live with someone infected with polio
• handle a laboratory specimen of the virus
• have your tonsils removed
• have extreme stress or strenuous activity after
exposure to the virus

How do doctors diagnose

polio?
Your doctor will diagnose polio by looking at your symptoms.
They’ll perform a physical examination and look for impaired
reflexes, back and neck stiffness, or difficulty lifting your
head while lying flat.
Labs will also test a sample of your throat, stool, or
cerebrospinal fluid for the poliovirus.

How do doctors treat polio?

Doctors can only treat the symptoms while the infection runs
its course. But since there’s no cure, the best way to treat
polio is to prevent it with vaccinations.
The most common supportive treatments include:
• bed rest
• painkillers
• antispasmodic drugs to relax muscles
 • antibiotics for urinary tract infections
• portable ventilators to help with breathing
• physical therapy or corrective braces to help with
walking
• heating pads or warm towels to ease muscle aches and
spasms
• physical therapy to treat pain in the affected muscles
• physical therapy to address breathing and pulmonary
problems
• pulmonary rehabilitation to increase lung endurance
In advanced cases of leg weakness, you may need a
wheelchair or other mobility device.

How to prevent polio

The best way to prevent polio is to get the vaccination.
Children should get polio shots according to the vaccination
schedule presented by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
CDC vaccination schedule
Age

2 months One dose

4 months One dose

6 to 18 months One dose

4 to 6 years Booster dose

Polio vaccine prices for children

On rare occasions these shots can cause mild or severe
allergic reactions, such as:
• breathing problems
• high fever
 • dizziness
• hives
• swelling of throat
• rapid heart rate
Adults in the United States aren’t at high risk for contracting
polio. The greatest risk is when traveling to an area where
polio is still common. Make sure to get a series of shots
before you travel.
Polio vaccinations around the world
Overall, cases of polio have dropped by 99 percent. Only 74
cases were reported in 2015.
Polio still persists in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

From the history of polio to

now
Polio is a highly contagious virus that can result in spinal
cord and brainstem paralysis. It most commonly affects
children under 5 years old. Cases of polio peaked in the
United States in the 1952 with 57,623 reported cases. Since
the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act, the United States has
been polio-free since 1979.
While many other countries are also certified polio-free, the
virus is still active in countries that haven’t started
immunization campaigns. According to WHO, even one
confirmed case of polio puts children in all countries at risk.
Afghanistan is set to start its immunization campaign for
early October and November of 2016. National and
Subnational Immunization Days are planned and ongoing
for countries in West Africa.