What is polio what is the cause of this disease

It is recommended that all adults make sure that they have been vaccinated against polio. Polio vaccination is a course of 3 injections with an interval of 4 weeks between the doses. If you have not received at least 3 doses of polio vaccine, speak to your doctor about catch-up doses.

Adults do not need a booster dose unless they are at special risk. People who are at risk and may need a booster include:. You can find more information about recent polio outbreaks through the World Health Organization and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Read more about immunisation against polio and how to find your vaccination records. Polio symptoms generally appear between 3 and 21 days after infection. However, many people infected with poliovirus have no symptoms and may not even know they are affected.

The poliovirus is spread when food, water or hands that are contaminated with the faeces poo or the throat or nasal secretions of an infected person enter the mouth of an uninfected person. A person may develop symptoms within 3 to 21 days of coming into contact with the virus and will be most infectious 7 to 10 days before and after the beginning of symptoms. People remain infectious for as long as the virus continues to be excreted in their faeces poo , which may continue for up to 6 weeks.

Typically, the virus remains in the throat for 1 to 2 weeks. People who are particularly at risk of infection include:. This is especially the case in parts of the world where sanitation is poor and immunisation programs are not widespread.

There is no cure for polio. Treatment aims to manage the effects of the disease. Supportive treatment options include:. Anyone with a history of polio may develop LEoP, although not everyone does. People who were severely paralysed by polio are more commonly affected. It is a diagnosable condition, however there is no test that will definitely show that you have it.

PPS is diagnosed on the basis of:. The late effects of polio are not caused by re-infection with the poliovirus, but by a range of factors related to the original polio infection. For example:. While this can occur at any time, it is believed that it may be triggered by a period of inactivity, trauma, surgery or by inflammation. When undergoing surgery, people should ensure that all treating clinicians are aware of their polio history.

The onset of LEoP can cause many people to feel emotional about past polio experiences. Joining a support group may help. Health professionals such as social workers, psychologists or occupational therapists can help you manage any concerns you have due to increased or changing needs brought on by LEoP. Read more and watch videos about the late effects of polio on the Polio Australia website. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.

Anthrax is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occasionally infects humans. The Western obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as rhinitis. Careful prescribing of antibiotics will minimise the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.

This means that most muscle fibers are replaced with scarring muscle-wasting that is permanent. If someone had polio as a child or young adult but had k ept or recovered some or all movement of weakened arms or legs, even to the point of being athletic afterward, they can risk becoming weaker in late adulthood. That is post-polio syndrome PPS , a condition that can affect polio survivors decades after they recover from their initial poliovirus infection.

Some PPS patients become wheelchair-bound when they had not been before. An infected person may spread the virus to others immediately before and up to 2 weeks after symptoms appear. Polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight the poliovirus. Almost all children 99 children to out of who get all the recommended doses of the inactivated polio vaccine will be protected from polio.

CDC laboratories conduct testing for poliovirus including culture, PCR, genome sequencing, and serology. CDC containment of the poliovirus is critical to minimizing the risk of the virus causing harm in the environment. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Global Immunization. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. What is Polio?

Minus Related Pages. Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. Infants and children are at the greatest risk and infections are most common during summer and fall. About 90 to 95 percent of people who do get infected with polio have no symptoms at all.

Of those who do get the infection, 2 percent or fewer may develop paralytic disease. Symptoms may vary depending on the kind of polio and vary child-to-child.

In addition to proper hygiene and handwashing techniques, the best way to prevent polio is by being vaccinated. The polio vaccine, or IPV Inactivated polio vaccine , is recommended four times, when your child is:. For Patients. Contact the Division of Infectious Diseases Fax What is poliomyelitis?