What is Polio?

Polio is mainly classified as Asymptomatic Polio (with no symptoms) and Symptomatic Polio (with symptoms). Asymptomatic Polio accounts for around 95% of the total cases and rest of the cases belongs to the category of Symptomatic Polio.

The various symptoms of the Polio includes temporary or permanent paralysis, muscular weakness, fatigue, pain in muscles & joints, breathing difficulties, sleeping problems, swallowing problem, reduced ability to perform the daily activities, gastrointestinal symptoms, influenza-like symptoms and many more. Polio virus when affects the patient’s chest muscles than it may even result in death of the individual.

Humans are the natural host of the Polio virus. Polio is found to enter in the body of an individual mainly through the oral route on consumption or intake of contaminated food and water.

Diagnosis of Polio can be done by performing the Laboratory Test using throat secretions, stool samples, or cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment Methods: - Presently there is no cure for the Polio disease but symptoms of Polio can be treated with medicines like antibiotics, analgesics, etc as well as by providing rehabilitation through physical therapy, corrective shoes, orthopedic surgery and counseling. However Polio can be prevented through effective Immunization of the person prior to infection. The vaccine for Polio was first developed by Jonas Salk in the year 1955.

Today due to the effective immunization programs conducted by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International Polio has been eradicated from many parts of the world. European countries and America have already been declared to be free of Polio. However Countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India will still take some more time to be declared as Polio free.