Polio is also known as poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis. Polio is a viral disease that affects nerves and can lead to partial or full paralysis. It’s a disease caused by inflammation of nerve cells in the brain stem or spinal cord. The first polio was mentioned in Europe in the 19th century and was first reported in the United States in 1843. Michael Underwood first described this disease in children as Polio in 1789.
The diseases history changed when the first vaccine was licensed in 1955. The vaccines name was inactivated polio vaccine. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) was introduced in 1961. The reports of polio increased in developed countries. More and more people were being affected by these diseases. The severity of the disease and the death rates badly increased. In 1952 this disease reached to the United States of paralytic polio and it was of more than 21000 cases were reported.
Then sanitizations improved and the rates of polio decreased. Polio was eliminated in the Western countries, by following some steps like: Giving polio vaccination, immunization strategies. Symptoms Non paralytic polio: Fever, Sore throat, Headache, Vomiting, Tiredness, Back pain, stiffness, Neck pain, Pain in arms or legs, hurting Muscles, and Meningitis. Paralytic polio: Loss of reflexes, severe muscle aches and Loose and floppy limbs (flaccid paralysis).
Post-polio syndrome: muscle or joint weakness and pain progression, Tiredness and exhaustion after physical activities, Breathing or swallowing problems and intolerance of cold temperature. Diagnosis: Doctors recognize polio by symptoms, like neck and back pain, bad reflexes, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. For the diagnosis to be confirmed a colorless fluid which surrounds your brain and spinal cord are checked for the seeing if you have the virus but the detection of the virus is very rare in some cases.
Polio is caused by the Poliomyelitis virus and the organ that is affected is the central nervous system. Polio virus enters the central nervous system and destroys the motor neurons. When should you call your doctor? Someone close have developed polio and you haven’t been vaccinated You develop symptoms of polio How the virus spreads Direct contact with someone who has polio Contact with infected mucus from the nose or mouth Contact with infected feces Risks Lack of immunization against polio Travel to an area that has had the virus spread
Treatments ` Polio has developed no cure yet, but if the victim is lucky it may wear off, for preventing the disease the polio vaccine could be given. Many people have developed through the vaccines and have built an antibody towards all three poliovirus types after two doses. Antibiotics for urinary infections Medications for urinary retention Moist heat (heating pads, warm towels) to reduce pain in muscles Painkillers to reduce headache, muscle pain, and spasms Physical therapy or orthopedic surgery to recover muscle strength.