~ caused by the polio virus .
~ spread through contaminated food , water , through close contact .
~ it caused paralysis and death .
~ the polio vaccine is a live attenuated virus , which means it consists of weakened polio virus strains .
~ most of the time , the child gets infected without symptoms(before 1950s ,never been vaccinated.)
~ the poliovirus is transmitted through the oral route .
~ it replicates in the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal tract , then invades the blood stream .
~ from the blood , it enters the nerves , largely ,the motor neurons in the spinal cord .
~ motor neurons are the ones responsible for transmitting the brain messages for movements in the limbs .
~ with the motor neurons destroyed , the nerve impulses cannot be relayed and get flaccid paralysis .
~ after a few weeks of polio paralysis , begin to notice muscles decreasing in size and bulk ( called atrophy )
~ may recover completely , or partially and some never recover at all .
~ post polio syndrome typically develops 30 - 40 years after the initial polio infection . ( had a history of polio in the past )
~ tend to progress slowly , stabilising from time to time .
~ look out for :-
- muscles and joint weakness and pain that progresses gradually.
- tiredness and profound fatigue with just minimal activity .
- muscles starting to atrophy .
- breathing and swallowing problem .
- inability to tolerate cold temperatures .
~ then to compensate for the neuron shortage , the remaining motor neurons become enlarged and sprout new fibres .
~ this stresses the remaining neurons and over the years , they deteriorate too .
~ then begin to lose their corresponding action .
~ the more severe the initial polio infection , the higher the chance of getting post - polio syndrome .
~ the later the develop polio ( teenager or adult ) the higher the risk also .
~ the better recovery after polio , the higher chance of this syndrome too .
~ because it seems that a greater recovery paces more stress on the remaining motor as neurons .
~ exercise too much also higher the chance of this syndrome because exercise confers stress .
~ polio is a virus , none of the antivirals are effective .