Introduction

Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under 5 years of age. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the fecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle such as contaminated water or food.

Symptoms

The symptoms of polio differ from case to case. Many infected people do not show any symptoms. However, in some cases, it can lead to partial or full paralysis.

Non-Paralytic Polio

This does not cause paralysis and usually causes flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, fever, headache, vomiting, weakness and fatigue, back pain, neck pain or stiffness, meningitis, and muscle tenderness or weakness.

Paralytic Polio

This form of polio leads to loss of reflexes, severe muscle weakness and pain, and floppy and loose limbs, also known as flaccid paralysis.

Post-Polio Syndrome

The patient experiences symptoms several years after they have had polio. This includes fatigue and weakness after minimal activity.

Causes and risk factors

The poliovirus spreads through direct contact with an infected person, consuming contaminated food and water, contact with infected feces, and inhaling droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. The risk factors include lack of immunization against polio, travel to an area that has had a polio outbreak without being vaccinated, and poor sanitary conditions.

Complications

If untreated for a prolonged period, poliomyelitis may lead to permanent paralysis, permanent disability, or deformity.

Diagnosis

Physical examination is done to check for abnormal reflexes, back and neck stiffness, and difficulty in lifting the head or neck. Culture tests and blood tests are also conducted.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment available for polio. The aim is to prevent or reduce the symptoms. Medications such as Ibuprofen and Penicillin are used to reduce pain in muscles and treat infections, respectively. Physical therapy involving moderate exercises is also recommended to maintain muscle function.

Prevention

Polio can only be prevented through vaccination. There are two vaccines available: oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine. Both are effective and safe, and both are used in different combinations worldwide, depending on local epidemiological and programmatic circumstances, to ensure the best possible protection for populations can be provided.

Global Eradication Efforts

In 1988, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio, marking the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF, and later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Since then, the incidence of polio worldwide has been reduced by 99%, and the world stands on the threshold of eradicating a human disease globally for only the second time in history, after smallpox in 1980.

Conclusion

While significant progress has been made in the global fight against polio, the disease remains a threat as long as a single child remains infected. Continued efforts in vaccination and public health education are crucial in the journey towards a polio-free world.