World Polio Day, 2018
World polio day is celebrated every year on 24th October, 2018 to make the world aware about eradication of polio. Poliomyelitis i.e. polio is an extremely contagious disease that generally affects children below 5 years of age.
The polio virus spreads from one person to another usually through contaminated water or direct contact with the feces of the diseased person. Hence it can be water borne, food borne or may spread through direct contact. Once a body is affected with this virus, it attacks the nervous system. It may lead to paralysis, breathing problems or even death.
Most commonly, it affects the nerves which are responsible for legs, their development and functions. Thus negatively affecting the functioning of legs, (bearing of body weight, movement, walking) unfortunately making them weak, underdeveloped and paralyzed.
Symptoms
Polio may be symptomatic or asymptomatic (without any symptoms). Symptomatic polio is again of two types, paralytic polio and non-paralytic polio. Full recovery is achieved by several individuals with non-paralytic polio. However, unfortunately, people with paralytic polio usually acquire permanent paralysis.
Non-paralytic polio symptoms
Non-paralytic polio is also known as abortive poliomyelitis. Its symptoms are flu-like and last for a few days to a few weeks. They can be as follows
- High temperature
- Throat infection
- Pain in head
- Tiredness
- Backache
- Neck pain
- Vomiting
- Throat infection
- Vomiting
- Stiffness of hands and legs
- Muscle spasms
- Meningitis
Paralytic polio symptoms
Only a small percentage of people infected with polio virus are affected with paralytic polio. In this case, motor neurons of spine and brain are attacked and destroyed by the virus. These neurons are responsible for controlling movements.
Symptoms start similarly as non-paralytic polio but eventually lead to
- Loss of reflexes of muscles
- Extreme muscle pain and spasms
- Wobbly or droopy limbs that are often worse on one side of the body
Types of Paralytic Polio
- Spinal polio: The virus attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord that causes paralysis in the arms and legs, and breathing problems.
- Bulbar polio: The virus affects the neurons responsible for sight, taste, swallowing, and breathing.
- Bulbospinal polio: The virus causes symptoms of both spinal and bulbar polio.
(Credit: medicalnewstoday.com)
Five facts related to Polio and its eradication are as follows:
1. Polio mainly affects children below age of 5. If anyone’s affected with the polio virus and comes in contact with a child who is not vaccinated, the spread of the microbes easily happens between the both and the new child gets infected. Hence the importance of vaccination can be easily understood. To make the world polio free it is important that all the countries are free from this virus since this virus cannot survive for long outside a living body.
2. There is no cure to paralytic polio but it is preventable with the help of a vaccine. This vaccine should be given to every child from birth till the age of 5 years.
3. Only three countries remain endemic. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Hence vaccination drive should be conducted rigorously in these countries. Even the people should be made more aware of the importance of getting their children vaccinated. Reach of medical services to remote area is essential where the vaccine can be carried to and given.
4. The cases have reduced by 99.9% since 1988. In spite of the progress accomplished since 1988, as long as a single child remains infected with poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease.This is an achievement and it should be continued and 100%.
5. Until we end polio forever, every child is at risk.
References
https://www.endpolio.org/what-is-polio
