Polio is a viral infection that can cause mild flu-like symptoms or lead to partial or total paralysis of the face, limbs, or respiratory muscles. Paralytic polio is rare but can be fatal. Post-polio syndrome can also occur years after the initial infection. Vaccination has eradicated polio in much of the world, but it still affects parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Travelers to these regions should ensure they are vaccinated.
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a viral infection that can lead to a number of symptoms of varying severity. Infections are usually classified as non-paralytic or paralytic, and the exact effects of polio vary based on the type of infection. Nonparalytic polio may cause only mild, flu-like symptoms, or it may even be asymptomatic. Paralytic polio, much rarer, can lead to partial or total paralysis of the face, limbs or respiratory muscles and in some cases can prove fatal. Occasionally, individuals who have been previously infected with polio may experience post-polio syndrome, or the onset of polio-like symptoms that occur years or even decades after the initial infection.
The effects of polio infections classified as non-paralytic tend to be relatively mild and can be similar to flu symptoms. These symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fever, sore throat, headache, and muscle stiffness. Generally, non-paralytic polio infections tend to work their way through the body in one to two weeks. In some cases, the symptoms can be so mild that the infected person is unaware of the infection.
Conversely, the effects of polio infections classified as paralytic can be quite serious or even fatal. This form of polio attacks nerves in the spine or brainstem. As a result, infected people could suffer partial or total paralysis of the limbs, face, respiratory muscles and heart. It should be noted, however, that paralytic polio is quite rare, accounting for only about 1% of all polio infections.
Less severe cases of paralytic polio can cause reversible muscle damage. Patients in these cases can recover the full use of their muscles after the intervention of physical therapy or assisted breathing devices. Severe cases, however, can lead to permanent paralysis of the limbs, respiratory muscles, or heart, which itself can prove fatal.
In some cases, people previously infected with polio may experience what is known as post-polio syndrome, or the emergence of symptoms that closely resemble the effects of polio years or even decades after the initial infection. Symptoms of post-polio syndrome vary in severity from case to case. Typically, however, people with this condition experience fatigue, pain and weakness in the joints and muscles, and difficulty breathing.
While the effects of polio can be debilitating or even fatal, it is important to know that, through vaccination, this once common disease has now been eradicated in much of the world. However, polio continues to affect parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Therefore, those traveling to these regions should ensure they have been adequately vaccinated against this virus.
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