POLIOMYELITIS [INFANTILE PARALYSIS]
Poliomyelitis or polio is a disease which causes crippling of the limbs.it is chiefly a disease of temperate countries with the greatest occurrence during the hottest season of the year.in the tropics it is quite common but generally does not reach the epidemic stage.the motor nerves of the brain and spinal cord are attacked making the muscles of the body,particularly those of the limbs and lungs,paralysed and unresponsive to external stimuli.generally not all the nerves supplying the muscles are destroyed.sometimes the attack may spread to the vital centres of the brain,thuss making breathing or swallowing imposible.such attacks kill the patient very rapidly.the epidemic always attack infants first,then children and lastly adults.
Causative organism
Picorna virus
Sources of infection
The spread can be by contact,but it is generally by droplets.the discharge of the virus from the mouth,nose and faeces of patients could easily infect others,particularly during epidemics.one can also be infected by drinking virus-contaminated water.houseflies may be vectors of the virus.
Symptom
*the virus attacks the gut causing some fever.
*a sore throat develops
*severe headache
*serious neck,back and limb pains
*when the virus enters the central nervous system,attacking the motor neurons,the pains continue
*paralysis of limbs due to death of the nerves controlling the muscles of the limbs
*paralysis of the respiratory tract muscles and swallowing muscles.even if one survives this symptoms,one would once more have to be taught how to breath or swallow.some patients are enclosed in a machine called an ‘iron lung’which ventilates their lungs.
Prevention and control
Very little can be done by way of prevention.polio can be controlled however by general mass immunization either by injection or by an oral vaccine(usually on a sugar lump)
The WhO has done a lot to prevent this disease,which is no longer endemic in many tropical countries
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