POLIOMYELITIES

Poliomyelitis can be defined as an acute highly communicable viral childhood disease with a wide range of severity from symptomless infection to paralytic signs. Polio which is a crippling disease is caused by polio virus types 1, 2, or 3. All member states of WHO agreed in 1988 to eradicate polio. World health organization aims to certify the world as free of the disease.  Since the global initiative to eradicate polio was launched, the number of reported cases of polio has been reduced for an estimated 350, 000 in 1988 to 483 cases associated with wild polio virus.

HOW POLIO SPREAD

The only way to spread polio virus is through the faeco/oral route. The viruses enter the body through the mouth when people eat food or drink water that is contaminated with faeces. The virus then multiplies in the intestine, enters the blood stream, and may invade certain types of nerve cells, which it can damage or destroy. Polio virus spread very easily in areas with poor hygiene.

Nearly all children living in households where someone is infected become infected themselves. Children are most likely to spread the virus between 10 days before and 10 days after they experience the first sign and symptom of the disease. It is important to know that the great majority of people who are infected do not have symptoms, but they can still spread the disease. The incubation period is 6 to 20 days.

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

Most children infected by polio virus never fail ill. Less than 5% of those infected may have general flu like symptoms such as fever, loose stool, sore throat, upset stomach, headache or stomach ache. Most children who have a polio virus infection without symptoms develop immunity and have lifelong protection against paralytic polio.

Paralytic polio begins with mild symptoms and fever. The symptoms are followed by severe muscles pain and paralysis, which usually develop during the first week of illness. Patients may lose the use of one or both arms or legs. Some patients may not be able to breathe because respiratory muscles are paralyzed. Some patients who develop paralysis from polio do recover to some degree over time. But the degree of recovery varies greatly from person to person. A diagnosis of polio is confirmed by laboratory testing of stool specimen.

COMPLICATION

1- Death

2- Paralysis

TREATMENT

While the initial symptoms-muscle pain and fever can be relieved, no treatment exists to cure paralysis from polio. A respirator can help patients who have difficulty in breathing. Regular physical therapy, as well as orthopedic treatment and operatives and the use of braces, can help reduce the long term crippling effects of polio.

CONTROL AND PREVENTION

1- Personal hygiene

2- Provision of portable drinking water

3- Proper excreta disposal system

4- Immunization with oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)

5- Supplemental doses of oral polio vaccine to all children less than five years of age during national immunization days (NIDs).

6- Surveillance for wild polio virus through reporting and laboratory testing of all cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) among children under fifteen years of age

7- Targeted mop-up campaign once wild polio virus transmission is limited to a specific focal area