Poliomyelitis
(infantile paralysis, polio)
What is polio?
Polio is a viral disease which may affect the central nervous system.
Since polio immunization has become widespread, cases of polio are very
rare.
Who gets polio?
Polio is more common in infants and young children and occurs under
conditions of poor hygiene. However, paralysis is more common and more
severe when infection occurs in older individuals. In exceedingly rare
cases, oral polio vaccine can cause paralytic polio in a person who receives
the vaccine and in a person who is a close contact of a vaccine recipient
(one in every 8.1 million doses and one in every 5 million doses, respectively).
How is polio spread?
Polio is predominately spread through the feces.
What are the symptoms of polio?
Infection ranges in severity from an inapparent infection to a paralytic
disease which may result in death. Symptoms include fever, malaise, headache,
nausea and vomiting, excruciating muscle pain and stiffness in the neck
and back.
How soon after infection do symptoms appear?
The incubation period is usually six to 20 days for paralytic cases,
with a range of three to 35 days.
When and for how long is a person able to spread polio?
Patients are most infectious from seven to 10 days before and after
the onset of symptoms. However, patients are potentially contagious as
long as the virus is present in the throat and feces. The virus persists
in the throat for approximately one week after the onset of illness and
is excreted in the feces for several weeks or, occasionally, months.
Does past infection with polio make a person immune?
There are three types of polio virus. Lifelong immunity usually depends
on which type of virus a person contracts. Second attacks are rare and
result from infection with a polio virus of a different type than the
first attack.
What is the treatment for polio?
There is presently no cure for polio. Treatment involves supportive
care.
What are the complications associated with polio?
Complications include paralysis (most commonly of the legs). Paralysis
of the muscles of respiration and swallowing can be fatal.
Is there a vaccine for polio?
Two types of polio vaccine are available: trivalent oral polio vaccine
(tOPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The American Academy of Pediatrics
and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend that tOPV
be given at two, four and 12-15 months of age and between four and six
years of age.
How can polio be prevented?
Maintaining high levels of polio immunization in the community is the
single most effective preventive measure.
Source: NY State Department of Health
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