muscle weakness and paralysis.
Polio is more common in infants and young children and occurs under
conditions of poor hygiene. It is a virus that may cause paralysis and
can be easily preventable by the polio vaccine.
Some fact about polio
* Fewer than 500 cases per year in Nigeria
* It can be Prevented by vaccine
* Treatment can help, but this condition can’t be cured
* Polio Spreads through contaminated food or water
* It Requires a medical diagnosis
* Laboratory tests or imaging always required
* Complications include paralysis, most commonly of the legs.
Paralysis of the muscles of breathing and swallowing can be fatal.
Many people who are infected with the poliovirus don’t become sick and
have no symptoms. However, those who do become ill develop paralysis,
which can sometimes be fatal.
The most common supportive treatments include:
* Bed rest
* Painkillers
* Antispasmodic drugs to relax muscles
* Antibiotics for urinary tract infections
* Portable ventilators to help with breathing
* Physical therapy or corrective braces to help with walking