WHAT IS POLIO?
Poliomyelitis or polio, is highly contagious viral infection that can lead to abnormal conditions such as paralysis, breathing problems, or even lead to death. The poliomyelitis is from the word “grey”, myelos referencing to the “matter” of the spinal cord, -itis meaning inflammation. So it means the inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord.
Poliomyelitis can be categorize as either asymptomatic or symptomatic. About 95% of all cases of poliomyelitis display no symptoms (asymptomatic poliomyelitis) but between 4% to 8% of cases of poliomyelitis display symptoms (symptomatic poliomyelitis). Nonparalytic or abortive poliomyelitis and a severe form of polio called paralytic can occur 0.1% to 2% of cases symptomatic polio. Polio occurs most frequently in the summer and children under years of age are most vulnerable.
Nonparalytic polio (abortive polio) can lead to flu-like symptoms that last for a few days , weeks, or months, such as sore throat, fever, fatigue, meningitis, muscles spasms, muscle tenderness, headache, arm and leg stiffness, neck and back pain, and vomiting.
Paralytic polio be classified as:
1. Spinal polio- which attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord and causes paralysis in arms and legs and causes breathing problems too.
2. Bulbar polio- which attacks
Paralytic poliomyelitis, "polio", held a reign of terror over this nation for decades. But unless you were born before 1955, polio may seem to be just another ephemeral disease that has been nonexistent for years. Those born before 1955 remember having a great fear of this horrible disease which crippled thousands of once active, healthy children. This disease had no cure and no identified causes, which made it all the more terrifying. People did everything that they had done in the past to prevent the spread of disease, such as quarantining areas, but these tactics never seemed to work. Polio could not be contained. Many people did not have the money to care for a family member with polio. This was one of the
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
Once America’s most feared diseases and causing death and paralysis across the country, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.
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
There is no cure for polio. Your body will shut down and you will weaken, until you lose all muscle function. Tetanus is a serious bacterial disease that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. (Mayo clinic staff, 2013) Tetanus can also lead to death. Meningitis is inflammation of brain and
Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease caused by the contraction of the poliovirus. Like influenza, smallpox and cholera, polio is a viral infection. This means that it is a disease caused by the spread of a virus. It spreads rapidly, and usually through person-to-person contact. In addition, this virus can also be distributed through foods or drinks contaminated by infected fecal matter. Although polio is deadly, sometimes, contractors of polio do not show any symptoms. The
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
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).
Understanding post-polio syndrome cannot be explained without investigating polio. Polio, also known as paralytic poliomyelitis, which was a devastating epidemic that resulted in patients suffering paralysis and possibly death. Richard Underwood, a
Did you know that polio has been traced from about 6,000 years ago. Polio killed 3,145 in 1952. Polio is a small RNA virus that lives in your throat. Polio is a viral illness that can cause nerve damage and cause paralysis. A polio like sickness has recently been found in California in 2013. Polio has caused many deaths and paralysis in human history. Polio has been a problem for the world for a long time and man businesses are trying to get rid of it for good. The real name of the polio virus is the poliomyelitis virus.
Poliomyelitis or Polio is an infectious viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and can cause temporary or permanent paralysis. Paralysis is the loss of the ability to move due to poison, injury or illness. In 1789 English physician Michael Underwood referred to polio as “a debility of the lower extremities.” However, the disease later became known as infantile paralysis because of its propensity to affect children. Polio mainly affects children five years of age and younger.
Polio is an infectious disease that has killed and paralyzed many people (Birth of Jonas Salk and the death of polio in India). It has taken the lives of
Paralysis caused by polio is very rare, of the total amount of individuals who contract the virus, “less than 1%” become paralyzed (NYSDOH, 2014).
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 90% to 95% of infections cause no symptoms.[1] Another 5 to 10% of people have minor symptoms such as: fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, neck stiffness and pains in the arms and legs.[1][2] These people are usually back to normal within one or two weeks. In about 0.5% of cases there is muscle weakness resulting in an inability to move.[1] This can occur over a few hours to few days.[1][2] The weakness most often involves the legs but may less commonly involve the muscles of the head, neck and diaphragm. Many but not all people fully recover. In those with muscle weakness about 2% to 5% of children and 15% to 30% of adults
The poliovirus is one of the most transmittable and most contagious viruses that the human population has come in contact with. The structure of the poliovirus allows it to be able to bind to motor neuron cells within a host’s body and reproduce quickly. Like all virus’s, the poliovirus