Have you heard of "polio"? Maybe your parents, grandparents, or grandparents cringe a little when they hear the name. That's because a few decades ago, polio was a terrible disease that terrified the world, claimed the lives of thousands of children, and paralyzed many others for life. But today? Today, we don't talk about it much. The main reason for that is the polio vaccine. But has this disease really been completely eradicated from the world? Let's talk about it.
Simply put, what is polio?
Polio is short for "Poliomyelitis." It is caused by a virus. The virus spreads very easily, especially among people who have not been vaccinated. If a person gets polio, they may not have any symptoms at all, or they may have symptoms that resemble a common cold or flu.
But, most dangerously, a small number of people can become seriously ill from this virus. It can cause paralysis , and sometimes even death. Although anyone of any age who has not been vaccinated can get polio, children under the age of 5 are most at risk.
The best news is that since 1988, the number of polio cases in the world has decreased by more than 99%. Full credit for that goes to the polio vaccine.
Are there different types of polio?
Yes, the conditions that occur when the polio virus enters the body are different. Let's see what they are. To make this easier to understand, I will show you in a table like this.
| Type of polio | Description and main features |
|---|---|
| Abortive Polio | This is the mildest and least dangerous form of polio. It feels like a common cold or flu. Symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and stomach ache last for a few days and then go away. |
| Nonparalytic Polio | This is a bit more severe than the previous one. In addition to symptoms like fever and headache, there may be stiffness and pain in the neck and back . Sometimes, a serious condition called meningitis, which is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain, can also occur. |
| Paralytic Polio | This is the most dangerous and feared stage of polio. The virus attacks the brain and spinal cord, permanently weakening the muscles that help with arm, leg, and even breathing. This is what causes paralysis . |
| Post-polio Syndrome | This is a very strange condition. A person who has polio as a young person and has fully recovered can have the symptoms (especially muscle weakness) recur many years later . This is called post-polio syndrome. |
How is the polio virus transmitted from person to person?
The polio virus enters our bodies through the mouth . The virus lives in the throat and intestines of the patient. Therefore, there are two main ways it spreads:
- Through feces: The virus is shed in the feces of a polio patient. The disease can be transmitted by drinking water, eating food, or putting dirty hands in the mouth that has been contaminated with this feces. This is the main way it spreads among young children.
- Through coughing and sneezing: The disease can also be spread by inhaling droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The most important thing is that even if someone has no symptoms, they can still spread polio to someone else if they have the virus in their body.
Remember: Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill the polio virus. Therefore, washing your hands thoroughly with soap and running water is essential to protect yourself from this virus.
How does the doctor diagnose the disease?
If you or your child has symptoms similar to polio, your doctor will first examine you carefully. To confirm the disease, they usually do:
1. Testing a stool sample: A stool sample is taken and tested in a laboratory for the presence of the polio virus.
2. Throat swab: A small amount of mucus is taken from the throat and tested.
3. Lumbar Puncture: In some severe cases, the doctor may need to insert a small needle into the spine and take a small amount of spinal fluid to test.
Is there a cure for polio?
This is the sad truth that we all need to know. There is no specific cure for polio yet. That is, there is no treatment to eliminate the virus from the body.
So what do doctors do? They try to make the patient comfortable and control the side effects of the disease. The treatments for this are:
- Painkillers (e.g. Ibuprofen)
- Muscle relaxants
- Getting plenty of rest and drinking fluids
- Strengthening muscles through physical therapy
- If you have difficulty breathing, use a ventilator to help you breathe.
- If paralyzed, use walking aids (braces, wheelchair)
The best shield against this deadly disease - the polio vaccine!
The best way to protect against a disease that has no cure is to prevent it before it occurs. The most powerful weapon we have against polio is the polio vaccine .
What this vaccine does is train our bodies to make antibodies to fight the polio virus. Then, if the virus ever actually enters the body, our bodies will destroy it.
There are two types of polio vaccines:
- Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV): This is the vaccine currently used in many countries, including Sri Lanka. It is given as a shot through a needle . It is very safe and provides 99% protection when all the prescribed doses are taken.
- Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): This is the oral vaccine that was previously given in our country. It is also very effective, but very rare, and there is a risk of polio spreading with this vaccine, so developed countries have now switched to the IPV vaccine.
Vaccination schedule
Under the National Immunization Program in Sri Lanka, every child is given the polio vaccine free of charge. The schedule is as follows:
- At 2 months of age
- At 4 months of age
- At 6 months of age
- At 18 months of age
- At the age of 5
Do you need a vaccine as an adult?
If you have had all of these vaccines as a child, you are still protected. However, if you are going to a country where polio is still present (e.g. Pakistan, Afghanistan), talk to your doctor about getting an extra dose (booster shot).
Take-Home Message
- Polio is a serious disease caused by a virus that can cause paralysis or even death.
- There is no specific treatment yet that can cure this disease. Treatment is only aimed at controlling the symptoms.
- The best and only way to protect yourself from polio is to get the polio vaccine.
- Make sure your child gets all the right doses at the right time. This is your responsibility.
- The polio virus is not killed by alcohol sanitizers, so it is very important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly.
- If you or someone in your family has questions about getting vaccinated, talk openly about it with your family doctor.
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