Poliomyelitis

Dr. Eiman Sumayyah

DPT (KMU), MS NEURO* (KMU)
What is Poliomyelitis?
 polio= gray matter
 Myelitis= inflammation of the spinal cord

 This disease result in the destruction of

motor neurons caused by the poliovirus.
 Polio is causes by a virus that attacks
the nerve cells of the brain & spinal cord
although not all infections result in sever
injuries and paralysis.
When was it reported?

 Poliomyelitis was recorded in the late

1700’s with the first epidemic in the
late 1800’s.
 The cases that were reported in 1979
where mild and self-limited and do not
result in paralysis.
How is polio transmitted?

 Poliovirus is transmitted through both

oral and fecal routes with implantation
and replication occurring in either the
oropgaryngeal and or in the intestine
of mucosa.
What are the symptoms?

 Many include fever, pharyngitis,

headache, anorexia, nausea, and
vomiting. Illness may progress to
aseptic meningitis and
menigoencephalitis in 1% to 4% of
patients. These patients develop a
higher fever and sever headache with
stiffness of the neck and back.
Types

 non-paralytic (does not lead to

paralysis),
 spinal-paralytic (can result in the
paralysis of one or more limbs)
 bulbar (can result in weak muscles,
reflex loss, and respiratory problems).
Polio in children
Can it cause paralyzes?
 Paralytic disease occurs 0.1% to 1% of
those who become infected with the
polio virus.
 Paralysis of the respiratory muscles or
from cardiac arrest if the neurons in the
medulla oblongata are destroyed.
 Physical therapy is recommended for full
recovery.
Treatment

 Bed rest with close monitoring of

respiratory and cardiovascular
functioning is essential during the acute
stage of poliomyelitis along with fever
control and pain relievers for muscle
spasms.
 Mechanical ventilation, respiratory
therapy may be needed depending of
the severity of patients.
 Vaccine
 Polio vaccine first appeared to be licensed in the United
States in 1955.
 Jonas Salk produced the first polio vaccine in 1952, the
best way to prevent Polio because there is no cure for
polio.
 Advantages:
 Ease to administration
 Good local mucosal immunity
 Disadvantage:
 Strict cold shipping & storage requirements
 Multiple doses required
What is post polio
syndrome?
 This can affect between 25–50% of people who
have previously contracted poliomyelitis. they show
symptoms of muscle and joint pain general fatigue
and weakness.
 Three indications of PPS
 Previous diagnoses of polio ( late affect of polio to
people that got it like when they where 10 years old)
 Long interval following recovery( people usually live
long but effect can occur during 30 to 35 years after
the diagnoses)
 Gradual onset (weakness that tends to be
perceptible until it interferes with daily activities)
Statistics

 Polio was one of the most dreaded child

disease in the 20th century in the U.S.
 An epidemic in 1916 killed 6,000 people
and left 27,000 more paralyzed.
 In 1950 parents would not let their
children go to local swimming pools or
movies because of the polio virus.
 As of 2014, three countries remain
infected with the virus: Afghanistan,
Nigeria, and Pakistan
1580–1350 BC An Egyptian portrays a
priest with a withered leg, suggesting that
polio has existed for thousands of years.