Pathology and Epidemiology of Anterior Poliomyelitis Essay

Nobody has ever discovered completely how it is that polio is spread. The best evidence suggests that the virus is excreted in the stool and passed through hand to hand or hand to mouth contact by people who do not wash their hands properly or often enough. It was during the first few years of the fifties and many years before then, that health department officials

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a disease that attacks the nervous tissue in the spinal cord and the brain stem resulting in paralysis (Document One). Polio is caused by the poliovirus, but it is unknown how this virus is acquired. The virus enters the digestive tract and stays in the intestines for up to eight weeks, and then attacks the lymphatic system, the blood stream and eventually travels to the brain and spine (Document Four). Once it is infected in one’s body, the disease is highly contagious and can be spread through contact of saliva, food, germs, or feces (Document Two). “The poliovirus causes most of its infections in the summer and fall. At one time, summer epidemics of polio were common and greatly feared” (Document Four). This may

Whens the last time someone developed Polio? Not in a long time, this is because we have developed vaccines to protect us. “Vaccines work by introducing diluted versions of viruses or bacteria into a person's body via injection” (Mandatory Vaccination). Since the discovery of vaccinations the medical world has changed forever. In today’s world many families have strong beliefs against vaccinations due to various myths and misconceptions. Since the discovery scientist have created vaccines for many illnesses around the world. When traveling abroad or anywhere to be precautious ask a doctor about vaccine protocols. This also would help prevent the spread of outbreaks. Everyone should be vaccinated because with everyone's immunity built up outbreaks

All three strands attack the nervous system and the digestive tract, making fecal matter and vomit infectious. Polio may also be contracted through contaminated food or water. Due to the highly infectious nature of the poliovirus, epidemics were rampant in poor communities and among young children attending school. Epidemics swept the nation during the 1930s, 20s and 10s. People lived in fear of their children contracting such a harmful illness. Schools and swimming pools were closed in order to prevent the spread of the virus (Last). Mothers were warned against breastfeeding, as the virus had the potential to be spread through breast milk

Poliomyelitis, also commonly known as polio, is a viral infection that, at one point was virtually eradicated in the US (SOURCE). The last major epidemic of polio was in the early 1950's (SOURCE). Polio was characterized in one of three ways: nonparalytic

Salgado, Sebastiao. The End of Polio: A Global Effort to End a Disease. Illustrated edition Ed. New York: Bulfinch, 2003. Print.

Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that can affect nerves and can lead to partial or full paralysis. Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. The virus spreads by direct person to person contact. For example contact with infected mucus or phlegm from the nose or mouth. Some symptoms are sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, and stomach pain. The virus enters through the mouth and nose. It multiplies in the throat and intestinal tracts and then is absorbed and spread through the blood and lymph system. The time from being infected with the virus to developing symptoms of disease can range from 5 - 35 days.

Polio is a viral infectious disease that affects many systems of the body and can result with the patient being paralyzed. Majority of the cases had no symptoms and it ran rampant in the U.S during 1952. It mostly affected children, and was a public epidemic, with nearly 58,000 cases being confirmed in a year. Most scientific research about the disease led to dead ends and the clinical trials of earlier polio vaccine left children dead and some of them

Post-Polio syndrome is a musculoskeletal problem which occurs after an individual has had polio (LaRocco, 2011). There are about 440, 00 people that survived polio (LaRocco, 2011). It is estimated that between 15% and 80% of people with polio will have post-polio syndrome. Post-polio syndrome generally occurs 15 years after the polio virus has subsided (LaRocco, 2011). The symptoms are muscle weakness, atrophy, pain, fatigue, and cold sensitivity. Fatigue can impair cognition as well as other symptoms (Grafman et al., 1995). The symptoms can come on slowly or quickly. Medications haven’t been proven to work well in treating the muscle symptoms, but rehabilitation may help (LaRocco, 2011). Pain and the psychiatric problems are important to control. Medication such as aspirin, hot pads and cold pads can help alleviate pain. Post-Polio syndrome is not usually life threatening (LaRocco, 2011).

Scientists have been trying to determine what caused the polio-like paralysis that first started with cold like symptoms. In an updated article in the San Francisco Chronicle, 2/27/2014, scientists believe there is a link with the virus Enterovirus D68 but the evidence is circumstantial. More research needs to be done to determine if the new strains of the old virus is causing polio-like paralysis in children (Allday, 2017). The CDC has reported this outbreak has occurred in more than 40 states and at least 200 cases reported. Research is finding the D68 enterovirus is related to the virus that causes unexplained paralysis in arms and legs. Researchers believe that once the enteroviruses move outside the gut or airways it can then go after the nerve cells in the spine that control

The word poliomyelitis is derived from two Greek words, polio meaning grey and myelon meaning marrow which indicates the spinal cord. The classic manifestation of paralysis is the effect of polio virus on the spine (Paul, 1971). Ancient records mention crippling diseases compatible with poliomyelitis. A weakness of the lower limbs in children that was identifiable as poliomyelitis was first described by Michael Underwood in 1789. The first outbreaks were reported in the early 19th century and in 1843 in Europe and the United States respectively. For the next century, polio epidemics were reported from developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere each summer and fall. As years passed, the severity of the epidemics and the average age of persons affected increased (Birmingham et al.,1997). This led to an increase in the number of deaths as a resulting from polio. Polio cases hit a peak in the USA in 1952, where more than 21,000 paralytic cases were reported (Paul, 1971). However, polio incidence declined rapidly following introduction of

Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) affects polio survivors several years after infection. Current prevalence and cause is unknown but researchers estimate that 25-40% of survivors experience PPS. Theories for causes include fatigue of overworked nerve cells and brain damage caused by polio. Common symptoms are progressive muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and fatigue (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Diagnosis relies on clinical information as there are no lab tests for PPS and symptoms vary. There are no effective pharmaceutical treatments that can stop deterioration or reverse deterioration caused by PPS. Non-fatiguing exercises may improve muscle strength and reduce tiredness (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and

This disease has killed and paralyzed many. One of polio’s fatal symptoms is paralyzing muscles that help you breathe (“Polio Vaccine”).

The effects of this disease are very harmful but are not easily transmitted. There are three different types of infections which include subclinical, nonparalytic, and paralytic. Patients with subclinical polio may not have any symptoms or have mild symptoms that may last 72 hours or less. A few symptoms that can result in the subclinical polio infection can be general discomfort or uneasiness, headache and slight fever, or red throat, slight throat, and lastly vomiting. (NIH). Then patients who have managed to contract nonparalytic polio will not become paralyzed if they are infected with it. Some symptoms can be fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, meningitis, and fatigue. While it may vary a few more serious symptoms can be back pain or stiffness, neck pain or stiffness, pain or

B. Signs and Symptoms: Approximately 95 percent of people who are infected with poliovirus will not have any symptoms, however, people who are infected and do not have any polio indicators can still spread the poliovirus. People who become infected with the poliovirus can start having symptoms as soon as four days after being infected, and not have any symptoms for as many as thirty five days. This time period between infection and experiencing symptoms is referred to as “The Incubation Period,” which is when the virus begins to multiply within the cells that line the back of the throat, nose, and intestines(“Signs and symptoms of Polio.” eMedtv.com. Clinaero Inc., 2006-2012. Sunday 4-22-12). For the