It attacks children under the age of 5 most strongly, and the worst forms of the virus can cause nerve damage, leading to paralysis, dyspnea, and death. During the 20th century epidemic, the virus frequently occurred during the warm summer months and struck towns and cities every year or so.
Polio was one of the most feared illnesses in the world until he was a doctor. Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine in 1954 and tested its safety.
What Causes Polio?
However, one type of wild poliovirus is still endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan and can be picked up by travelers and transported around the world. “Only one traveler with polio can bring the disease to the United States,” the CDC said.
Infection can also occur if not enough children are vaccinated in an area. It usually occurs with the oral polio vaccine first used in 1961, created by Dr. Albert Sabin. According to GPEI, the formulation of this vaccine contains a mixture of each of the three live attenuated poliovirus strains.
“The weakened strain can be flushed into the environment through the digestive system by vaccinated children and transferred from an unvaccinated individual to another. This process is inadequate. It is exacerbated by a good sanitary system and lack of clean drinking water, “GPEI said.
When a strain infects an unvaccinated person, it begins to circulate and can travel around the world.
“This suggests that the virus may have originated outside the United States where OPV is being administered, as the (reverted) strain cannot emerge from the inactivated vaccine.” Said the statement.
Polio is highly contagious
Most people come into contact with polio by picking up small pieces of infected feces and touching them.Exposure to the virus also occurs when you have children Mouth toys or other objects contaminated with feces.
In unsanitary conditions, the virus can also spread through contaminated food and water.
Polio symptoms start like the flu
Many cases of polio, such as Covid-19, are asymptomatic. In fact, according to the CDC, about 95% of all polio cases are asymptomatic.
When symptoms appear, they can take three forms. Flu-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and malaise are characteristic of polio miscarriage.
If these symptoms include additional neurological symptoms such as photosensitivity or stiff shoulders, you may have polio without paralysis.
The most dangerous versions of polio can cause paralysis “in a matter of hours,” WHO said. The disease begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses to muscle aches, cramps, and loss of reflexes. Paralysis on one or the other side may continue.
Treatment of polio
There is no cure for polio, only treatments that relieve symptoms.
“Fever and physiotherapy are used to stimulate muscles, and antispasmodics are given to relax muscles,” GPEI said. “This can improve mobility, but it cannot reverse permanent polio paralysis.”
Vaccination is the only preventative measure.
Source: www.cnn.com
