Polio
In 1988, the World Health Organization launched an initiative to eradicate poliomyelitis. Yet in 2019, there were still reported cases of this disease in the world.
Humans are the only natural reservoir for poliovirus. Spread is by contact with feces and/or respiratory secretions. The time elapsing from the introduction of the virus into the body until the development of symtpms ranges from 3 to 21 days.
A person with the virus can be contagious 7 to 10 days before the onset of the first symptoms of the disease, but the virus can be excreted in the stool for three to six weeks from the beginning of the disease.
Symptoms and signs of the disease
Most infected children have no symptoms at all or have mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache and muscle aches. These flu-like symptoms usually last for a week. One out of 100 infected children has a stiff neck and vomiting as signs of meningitis, and in one child out of 200 infected, nerve damage and irreversible paralysis of the muscles of the lower limbs occur. As paralysis can affect the respiratory muscles, 2% to 5% of children with paralysis children die, and in adults, this number is higher and ranges from 15% to 30%.
For people who have suffered from polio, after 15 to 40 years, new pains and paralysis may occur, which is called post-polio syndrome.
Treatment of polio
There is no cure for polio. Flu-like symptoms usually go away on their own. In case of discomfort and pain in the muscles, the use of paracetamol is recommended. The child should be encouraged to drink more fluids and get enough rest. Some children who suffer from the paralytic form of the disease will need physical treatment, while some will need help with feeding and breathing.
Prevention of polio
Even if there are no reported cases of polio in a country, the virus can be introduced from other countries where polio persists. That is why it is important to protect your child from this disease by immunization. There are two types of polio vaccines:
- Inactivate polio vaccine (IPV): Contains killed polio viruses and given by injection. Killed vaccine is usually administered in combination with other vaccines.
- Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is weakened live polio virus given in drops to the mouth.
Some countries use only killed vaccines. Other countries use also live vaccine.
WHO has recommended to stop using polio live vaccines during the next few years and continue only with the killed vaccine.
First dose of IPV at 6-8 weeks, two more doses at intervals 4-8 weeks.
One of the important protective measures regular hand washing to prevet transmission by "dirty hands".
