Poliomyelitis

No Comments »

Poliomyelitis is a very contagious and infectious disease that is caused by three types of poliovirus. This poliovirus is a virus that destructs the nervous system, and can lead to paralysis. Poliomyelitis is actually an ancient disease; it was Jakob Heine who recognized it as a medical entity in 1840.
Causes

Once infected, poliovirus easily spreads through direct person-to-person contact and by contact with the infected secretions from the mouth or nose of the infected person. Even contact with the feces of an infected person leads to poliomyelitis. The virus enters the body when a person eats contaminated food or water, or touches their mouth with contaminated hands.
Though there was a worldwide epidemic of poliomyelitis between the 1840s and 1950s, the development of polio vaccines has lead to a huge reduction in the incidence of the disease. In fact, with polio immunization, there are very few poliomyelitis cases today especially in the western hemisphere. There are however some parts of the world where polio is widespread, and where the disease is more common in summer and fall.

Symptoms
The symptoms of poliomyelitis generally start after a week or two of infection. Even in those who are not vaccinated, poliomyelitis sets in as a brief and unidentified illness with fever, headache and vomiting. This lasts for a few days, without any ill effects. However in some cases, this stage may also move onto something serious.
In the intestines, the poliovirus enters the bloodstream to invade the central nervous system while spreading its virus into nerve fibers. With multiplication, the virus destroys nerve cells that activate muscles. It is usually the motor neurons or nerve cells in the legs that are most affected than those in arms.
Treatment

There is actually no cure for children infected with poliomyelitis. They need bed rest in the early course of the disease and if respiratory muscles get infected, the child may have to be given respiratory support. Once the dangerous phase of the illness subsides, based on the patient, patient rehabilitation like occupational therapy, physiotherapy and perhaps surgery takes place.
According to the World Health Organization, poliomyelitis has now spread from Pakistan to China as a genetic link has been confirmed between the poliovirus type 1 virus detected in China and a strain circulating in Pakistani.

So far, 7 confirmed cases have been cited in China's Xinjiang province, which borders Pakistan in the past two months. This is why travelers to Pakistan are advised to get vaccinated against polio before travelling.