Recently, doctors in our country again diagnosed poliomyelitis in several children, and its severe paralytic form. With this dangerous infection that affects the gray matter of the spinal cord, the whole world has been fighting for many years, and there are even special WHO programs aimed at eradicating poliomyelitis. However, this disease periodically reminds of itself with new outbreaks. Experts are confident that timely vaccination of children & nbsp; against polio can prevent the emergence of new patients. But since cases of polio infection are recurring, the doctor must be clear about its symptoms and a list of urgent measures.
How polio spreads and why is the virus dangerous
Poliomyelitis is one of the smallest enteroviruses, most often spread by the oral-fecal route, but airborne infection is also possible. The virus persists for a long time in milk, water, and in faeces, it can remain active for up to six months. Poor hygiene contributes to infection (unwashed hands, unboiled water or milk) and weakness of the body. The source of infection often becomes a person with erased & nbsp; and atypical forms of poliomyelitis.
The danger of the polio virus is that it penetrates through the lymphatic or circulatory systems into the body, multiplies in motor neurons, causes their necrotic changes, causes the development of serious motor disorders in the patient, leads to paralysis, bone deformities, paresis.
How to recognize the main symptoms of polio, including atypical ones
The initial stage of poliomyelitis strongly resembles the manifestations of acute respiratory infections, therefore, in many cases, patients do not receive adequate assistance and become a source of infection for others. Patients complain of catarrhal phenomena – dryness of the nasopharynx and perspiration, sore throat, runny nose, watery reddened eyes, headache and fever. Against the background of these symptoms, the doctor should be alerted by the presence of vomiting, lethargy, muscle twitching, convulsions, tension in the neck muscles, pain in the limbs and spine. A rash may appear in the directions of large lymphatic vessels.
After 5-7 days, in a patient who has been vaccinated in advance and has good immunity, the symptoms subside and recovery occurs. If timely vaccination was not carried out, if exacerbations of chronic diseases join, if the patient's defenses of the body are weakened due to various factors, poliomyelitis & nbsp; may progress to the paralytic stage.
In this case, the temperature drops, muscle pains disappear, but individual muscles become weak and incapable of voluntary movements. Paralysis and paresis appear, sometimes asymmetrical and multiple. Part of one limb, individual muscles of the neck or back may be affected. The legs and arms are most commonly affected. If the respiratory muscles are affected, death is likely. Symptoms increase during the first week, then slow down, after 2 weeks, dislocations in the joints and muscle atrophy are possible. Approximately one in four patients with polio remains disabled.
Diagnostics of poliomyelitis and therapeutic interventions for this disease
The diagnosis of poliomyelitis is made on the basis of laboratory data, the basis for the immediate taking of materials for analysis is the acute onset of the disease – with fever and muscular pains, accompanied by a rapid development of muscle flaccidity and asymmetric paralysis.
A patient with suspected polio is isolated immediately. Treatment against poliomyelitis is symptomatic, the introduction of gamma globulin, B vitamins, bed rest with strict fixation of the limbs and their very careful movement is recommended. In case of damage to the respiratory muscles, artificial ventilation of the lungs is used. In the recovery period, massages, physiotherapy, water procedures, individual sessions with an orthopedist are fundamentally important.
Vaccination against polio is useless during illness, but as a preventive measure, the vaccine can prevent severe paralysis and paresis.
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