Types of PolioThere are three types of polio.
Sub-clinical: Patients may not experience any symptoms. This form of polio does not affect the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Approximately 95 percent of polio cases are sub-clinical. Non-paralytic: This form of polio, affects the central nervous system, it produces only mild symptoms and does not result in paralysis. Paralytic: This is the rarest and most severe form of polio, it can lead to temporary or permanent 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 brain stem). SyptomsSub-clinical polio symptoms may not be as noticeable as it is the mildest type of polio infection. These symptoms will usually last for 72 hours or less and can include; headache, vomiting, discomfort, red/sore throat or a mild fever.
Non-Paralytic Polio symptoms may last for a few days to a fortnight and can experience mild, flu-like symptoms such as; a fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, muscle tenderness/spasms, arm/leg pain or stiffness, problems swallowing or breathing, abnormal reflexes, sore throat (which could lead to an upper respiratory infection) and neck/back stiffness. Paralytic Polio has the most severe symptoms out of the three types of polio, these symptoms can lead to paralysis and are fatal. The symptoms include; loss of reflexes, severe spasms, deformed limbs (hips, ankles and feet), loose and floppy limbs (sometimes only on one side of the body due to the weakness in the spine), temporary or permanent paralysis. |
Treatments |
As there isn't a cure for polio, doctors can only treat the symptoms while the infection can still spread. the most common treatments include; rest, painkillers, antibiotics, ventilators, corrective braces, heating pads, physical therapy or a wheelchair. Although, if a person gets all the recommended amounts of vaccine (as a child) they will most likely be protected from polio.The polio vaccine protects children by preparing the cells in their bodies to fight the polio virus. There are two types of vaccines that can prevent polio: inactivated poliovirus vaccine and oral poliovirus vaccine .
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