The rumours are true – polio is an ageless disease
Though it mainly affects children below the age of five, polio can attack at any age.
Poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis, commonly known as polio, is a disease that affects the central nervous system and may lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
Polio Awareness Week occurs from 6–12 August, but are you familiar with this potentially deadly disease? In its most severe form, polio causes complications in breathing, paralysis and in rare occurrences, death.
According to polioeradication.org, polio is caused by a human enterovirus called the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can invade an infected person’s brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis. It enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Infected individuals can spread the virus into the environment for a few weeks, where it spreads quickly through a community, especially in areas of poor hygiene.
Although there is no cure, there are safe and effective vaccines. Most people with the disease do not have symptoms or only experience mild symptoms and therefore they usually go undiagnosed. Less than one per cent of polio infections result in paralysis.
“Ninety per cent of infected people have no visible symptoms, in others, initial symptoms include pain in the limbs, headaches, fever, vomiting and stiffness in the neck,” said the organisation.
Polio can be transmitted by young children regardless of their environment. Flies can spread the poliovirus from faeces to food.
Polioeradication.org said the immunisation of children has helped eradicate the virus in many countries, including South Africa.
There are six factors that have a huge impact on paralysis in the small percentage of people diagnosed with polio, including:
• pregnancy
• injury
• immune deficiency
• strenuous exercise
• removal of the tonsils
• intramuscular injections, such as medications
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