Recently, Pakistan has seen many polio cases being diagnosed and resulting deaths in areas where medical facilities are severely lacking. What exactly is this polio? Let’s take a look. While everyone vaguely knows that polio causes some sort paralysis in legs, not many know that polio is contagious. It is a viral infection that can lead to paralyzed limbs and, in an extreme case, death. Paralysis and death are seen in severe cases as many people who contact polio virus don’t fall ill and many aren’t aware that they may have been infected by the polio virus.

People falling ill with non-paralytic polio, which doesn’t lead to paralysis, exhibit flu-like symptoms including fever, sore throat, headaches, vomiting, stiffness or pan in back / neck/ arms or legs or weakened muscles. Those who get infected with the other kind that is paralytic polio face severe ache or weakness in muscles, loss of reflexes, loose limbs, mostly affecting one side of the body. A person who falls ill with polio can face post-polio syndrome several years after having polio, averagely 35 years after diagnosis of polio.

Polio is a contagious disease that spread through contaminated water. It spreads through the fecal matter, and if water is consumed from a source that has been contaminated, the virus can spread. Living with an infected person increases the chance to contact polio virus.

If a person hasn’t been immunized against polio, he is at risk if he travels to areas where sanitations standards are poor and polio is common. Living with an infected person increases the risk of contracting polio. Weak or compromised immune system increases the risk of getting infected.

There is no cure for polio. Recovery happens with time given the sick person is allowed to rest and made comfortable. They should be given a healthy diet, pain relievers, and allowed lots of bed rest. Moderate exercise helps maintain muscle strength.

In developed areas children are vaccinated against the polio vaccine. The vaccination is provided in four doses. First dose is given at two months of age, second at four months, third between 6 and 18 months, and the fourth between the age of 4 and 6 years. If an adult is unvaccinated, they are also provided vaccinations against the polio virus. This vaccination is provided in 3 doses. Two doses are given at an interval of 4 – 8 weeks. , while the 3rd is given within 6 to 12 months of the second vaccination.