- Poliomyelitis;Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system. Polioviruses attack the motor neurons of the anterior horns in the brainstem and spinal cord. Initial symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, and stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs. In a small proportion of cases, the disease causes paralysis, which is often permanent. The virus is excreted in the stool of an infected person and the disease is therefore most common where sanitation is poor. Polio vaccine (sabin) is being used as polio drop.
- Pathogen : Polio Virus The poliovirus resides in humans and enters to the environment in the feces of someone who’s infected. Poliovirus spreads through the fecal-oral route, especially in areas where sanitation is inadequate
- Mode of transmissions : Virus enters inside the body through food or water(oro-faecal route).Poliovirus can be transmitted through contaminated water and food or through direct contact with someone infected with the virus. Polio is contagious that anyone living with a recently infected person is likely to become infected. People carrying the poliovirus can spread the virus for days or weeks in their feces
- Incubation period : Usually 7-14 days
- Symptoms:(i) The virus multiplies in intestinal cells and then reaches the brain through blood. (ii) It damages brain and nerves and causes infantile paralysis. Signs &symtoms
- Fever
- Sorethroat
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Body pain
- Backpain&neck pain
- Muscle weakness
Treatment
Because no cure for polio exists, the focus is on increasing comfort, speeding recovery and preventing complications. Supportive treatments include:
- A nutrition diet
- Bed rest
- Pain relievers
- Moderate exercise (physiotherapy) to prevent deformity and loss of muscle function
- Prevention and Cure
Polio vaccine drop (oral polio vaccine, OPV) are given to children at certain intervals.
Pulse polio programme is organised in our country to give polio vaccine to children