There is no medicine to cure polio

The government, through the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, established polio extraordinary event (KLB) status on November 19, 2022, after a polio case was found in a 7-year-old child who had never received polio immunization in Pidie District, Aceh. There have been three polio patients discovered there as of today (November 22, 2022) (Detikhealth). 

Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, SpA (K), Chairman of the IDAI (Indonesian Pediatrician Association), stated that it is not impossible that the virus will spread to many other provinces, as happened in 2005, when polio cases were discovered not only in Cidahu, Sukabumi, and West Java but also in several other provinces.

In 2014, Indonesia was declared free from polio thanks to the success of the immunization program. However, immunization coverage continues to decline, especially during the pandemic, which is the reason for the reappearance of outbreaks (extraordinary events).

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly contagious disease caused by a viral infection. The poliovirus belongs to the human enterovirus group, which replicates in the intestine and is excreted in the feces. Polio attacks the nervous system and can cause complete paralysis. Polio is commonly experienced by children, but that does not mean that adults are not at risk of being exposed to polio, so proper prevention is an effective measure to avoid exposure to the virus that causes polio.

Polio is spread from person to person via fekal-oral (dari tinja penderita) or, more recently, via air or food, which is contaminated and grows rapidly. It is possible to grow all of your hair, especially if you are under the age of five. The incubation period for the polio virus is 3-6 days, and the recovery period is 7–21 days. Most people (90%) do not have a disease or have a severe disease that cannot be diagnosed. In other cases, the initial symptoms are demam, lelah, nyeri kepala, muntah, kaku kuduk, and nyeri pada anggota tubuh. One of the 200 events causes irreversible growth. 5–10% of the population suffers as a result of lumpuh pernafasan.

Polio can only be eradicated through vaccination, the most effective method of prevention (vaccination as soon as possible after birth), and healthy living (PHBS). There is no cure for polio, but it can be treated by following some guidelines from your doctor, such as taking bed rest, getting antispasmodics to make you feel better, and getting antibiotics.

If you have signs or symptoms of polio and are not sure if you have ever gotten a vaccine, you should immediately go to the doctor to ask about the disease you are suffering from.