POLIO

Polio is an infectious viral disease that is caused by the poliovirus. This virus spreads from person to person, when someone gets infected with the poliovirus, his or her brain and spinal cord will be invaded thereby leading to paralysis. This disease is very common among children. It is called Poliomyelitis in full, it is a deadly disease.
SYMPTOMS: About 72 out of 100 people who get infected with poliovirus infection may manifest the following visible symptoms;
Stomach pain
Sore throat
Tiredness
Fever
Headache
A smaller proportion of people with poliovirus infection will develop more severe symptoms that affect the brain and spinal cord;
Parenthesis
Meningitis
Paralysis(stiffness of parts of the body )


However, paralysis is the peak of the symptoms, when this manifests, it can lead to permanent disability and death. Statistics have shown that between 2 and 10 out of 100 people who have been paralysed from poliovirus infection die, because the virus affect the muscles that help them breath, once breathing is hindered life will be threatened,  which can lead to death.
To this end, children should be properly immunised in order to protect them from this menace. If a child gets infected and treated, the child might later develop post- polio syndrome; a condition of muscle pain, weakness or paralysis in adults.

TRANSMISSION : The virus only affects human, children in most cases. It spreads easily through person to person contact. It enters the body through mouths and spreads through contact with feces of an infected person. In rare cases it can also be transmitted through a sneeze and cough droplet. If objects that are contaminated  with poop enters the mouth, one can gets infected with poliovirus.  It is also worthy of note that food and water in unsanitary condition can transmit this disease.




PREVENTION: Prevention is said to be better than cure. Prevention is the only option for Poliomyelitis, this is because polio is not curable, it can only be prevented, this can be achieved through proper immunisation.  Polio vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies to fight off the polio virus right from cradle. There are two types of vaccine that prevent polio; inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and Oral Poliovirus vaccine  (OPV). IPV is given as an injection in the leg or arm based on the patient's age.

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