Polio Alert!!! Get to know the symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention

Polio is a disease caused by a contagious viral infection. Exposure to this virus can trigger nerve injury which has a very high risk of causing paralysis, difficulty breathing, and can even lead to death.

Even though children are very susceptible to this disease, this does not mean that adults are not at risk of being exposed to polio. Taking appropriate precautions can be an effective measure to avoid exposure to the virus that causes polio.

Causes of Polio

This disease is caused by the polio virus. Usually, transmission can occur through direct contact or consuming water and food that has been contaminated with feces containing the polio virus. Even though they have no symptoms, polio sufferers can still transmit the polio virus to other people.

 

Polio Risk Factors

People who have a very high risk of developing this disease are:

• People who live in remote areas have difficulty accessing clean running water, especially for toilets
• HIV Positive Pregnant Women
• Children who are not vaccinated

For people who have never been vaccinated, the risk of contracting this disease will be higher if:

• Travel to an area where there has been a recent polio outbreak
• Living with or caring for someone with polio
• Work with virus specimens
• Have had a tonsillectomy

 

Polio Symptoms

The symptoms of polio are experienced differently by each sufferer. In fact, 95 to 99 percent of polio sufferers do not experience symptoms. Here are some symptoms of polio to watch out for:

 

 

 

 

 

Polio Symptoms of Non-Paralytic Type Polio

• Fever
• Painful Swallowing
• Headache
• Vomit
• Weak
• Meningitis

 

Polio Symptoms of Paralysis Type Polio

• Loss of Reflexes
• Feet become droopy
• Paralysis that occurs suddenly can be temporary or permanent

 

Polio Diagnosis

The diagnosis of polio itself is made based on anamnesis, physical examination, and can be assisted by supporting examinations. In the history, the doctor will look for symptoms that appear, then through a physical examination the doctor will look for signs of disease such as stiff neck and abnormalities in reflexes.

Supporting examinations through throat swabs, stool examination and central nervous system fluid analysis can also be carried out to look for the presence of the polio virus.

 

Polio Treatment

See a doctor as soon as possible. Currently there is no medicine that can treat polio. However, this disease can be overcome by carrying out several treatments according to doctor's recommendations, such as

• Giving medication reduces pain
• Antispamodic medication to relax muscles
• Antibiotics
• Physiotherapy

 

 Polio Prevention

Prevention of polio is by vaccination. Polio vaccination itself has been discovered since 1957 and is one of the most effective prevention efforts. Vaccinations are given 3x and supplemented with 1x booster. Vaccinations need to be given to children at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months and boosters between the ages of 4-6 years.