Saturday, July 9, 2016
Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis in a matter of hours.
Causes Polio
Poliovirus is often transmitted from person-to-person through fecal matter. People living in areas with limited access to running water or flush toilets often get the virus from drinking water contaminated by human waste that contains the virus.
In addition, the virus can be spread by contaminated food or water or direct contact with another infected person. According to the May Clinic, the virus that causes polio is so contagious that anyone living with an infected person will likely become infected themselves. (Mayo Clinic)
Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, such as HIV+ people, and young children are the most susceptible to the polio virus. If you have not been vaccinated, you increase your risk of contracting polio by:
traveling to an area that has had a recent polio outbreak
taking care of or living with someone infected with polio
handling a laboratory specimen of the virus
having your tonsils removed
extreme stress, which can compromise immune system function
Poliovirus is often transmitted from person-to-person through fecal matter. People living in areas with limited access to running water or flush toilets often get the virus from drinking water contaminated by human waste that contains the virus.
In addition, the virus can be spread by contaminated food or water or direct contact with another infected person. According to the May Clinic, the virus that causes polio is so contagious that anyone living with an infected person will likely become infected themselves. (Mayo Clinic)
Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, such as HIV+ people, and young children are the most susceptible to the polio virus. If you have not been vaccinated, you increase your risk of contracting polio by:
traveling to an area that has had a recent polio outbreak
taking care of or living with someone infected with polio
handling a laboratory specimen of the virus
having your tonsils removed
extreme stress, which can compromise immune system function
Types of Polio
There are three types of polio infections:
Prevent Polio
The best way to prevent polio is to get vaccinated. Children should get polio shots according to the CDC vaccination schedule, shown below.
Rarely, the shots can cause mild or severe allergic reactions, including:
breathing problems
high fever
dizziness
hives
swelling of throat
rapid heart rate
Adults in the United States are not at a high risk for contracting polio. The greatest risk is when traveling to an area where polio is still common. Make sure to get a series of shots before you travel.
Center for Disease Control Vaccination Schedule
Age
2 months One dose
4 months One dose
6 to 18 months One dose
4 to 6 years Booster dose
- Sub-clinical: Approximately 95 percent of polio cases are sub-clinical, and patients may not experience any symptoms. This form of polio does not affect the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).
- Non-paralytic: This form, which does affect the central nervous system, produces only mild symptoms and does not result in paralysis.
- Paralytic: This is the rarest and most serious form of polio, which produces full or partial paralysis in the patient. There are three types of paralytic polio: spinal polio (affects the spine), bulbar polio (affects the brainstem), and bulbospinal polio (affects the spine and brainstem).
Prevent Polio
The best way to prevent polio is to get vaccinated. Children should get polio shots according to the CDC vaccination schedule, shown below.
Rarely, the shots can cause mild or severe allergic reactions, including:
breathing problems
high fever
dizziness
hives
swelling of throat
rapid heart rate
Adults in the United States are not at a high risk for contracting polio. The greatest risk is when traveling to an area where polio is still common. Make sure to get a series of shots before you travel.
Center for Disease Control Vaccination Schedule
Age
2 months One dose
4 months One dose
6 to 18 months One dose
4 to 6 years Booster dose
