Learn Everything About Polio: Symptoms, Vaccine And More

What is Polio?

Polio is a chronic illness, also referred to as poliomyelitis influences the inflammation of the grey matter where nerves are affected. Poliovirus condition can cause the inability to move limbs and it has been observed that the aggressive virus can invade the breathing patterns and in rare cases, cause death. Let’s delve deeper into the symptoms, how polio affects the body, vaccinations and more. Read on.

How does Polio affect an individual?

Poliovirus affects the nervous system, and the cells present in the spinal cord. It makes an easy entry through the mouth, while the virus is ingested, the cells lining the throat and intestines are brutally affected.

The prime contributor which is responsible for the spreading of the virus is believed to be the faeces of the infected individuals. The virus travels through the bloodstream to different organs and parts of the body, causing a lot of weakness throughout. The damage caused due to the virus can also lead to paralysis and trouble breathing in some rare cases.

The severity of the virus depends on the age an individual. Some people can go asymptomatic while others might face mild flu-like symptoms in the beginning.

Symptoms

While the symptoms may vary from person to person, some common ones include:

• Headache
• Neck pain or stiffness in the spine
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Stiffness in arms and legs
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle spasms

It’s vital to check and make a necessary note of these symptoms. Primarily, the virus affects individuals under the age of 5 and the symptoms vary on the immune system. Poliovirus vaccination is the only solution which is effective in reducing the chances of getting affected by the virus.

Types of Polio Vaccine

Individuals without the vaccination are prone to catching the deadly virus. So, it is recommended to take the necessary steps and the polio vaccination can not only keep your child safe but can also protect against the polio disease.

Two types of polio vaccines are:

• Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)
• Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

In layman's terms, the vaccine given by injection is an inactivated polio vaccine and the vaccine given by the mouth is an oral polio vaccine.

The IPV is a series of injection shots. It is believed that an individual can’t spread polio or get sick after this vaccine.

On the other hand, OPV is a liquid vaccine that uses a weakened live virus that wouldn’t make you sick. OPV can have one or all three types of polioviruses so that it can strengthen your immune system and body. The polio virus multiplies and is released from the stool.

Prevention

The only way to keep children safe from polio is by completing the polio vaccination course. These shots can eliminate the chances of developing polio. According to the polio vaccination schedule, the polio dosage must be given at the age of:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6- 18 months
• 4-6 years

It is recommended to have polio shots on the advised schedules to prevent long-term complications.

Risk Factors

The virus can easily get inside your mouth and invade the nervous system. Well according to the statistics, children are more likely to get affected by this deadly virus than adults. Poliovirus spreads when you get into direct contact with contaminated faeces, water or food of an infected person. This can easily happen when the food or water is dirty or unhygienic. Lack of vaccination can elevate the chances of getting affected by polio.

It has been observed that the virus is more common in poor geographic areas where vaccines aren’t available easily. Breathing in the same air as the affected person increases the risk of catching polio as well.

An individual needs to adopt a healthy lifestyle by making a slight shift in their daily routine. By exercising regularly and maintaining a balanced diet can reduce the risk of long-term complications of the disease. Regular medical check-ups can also help in monitoring the health and detecting potential issues.