Polio: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
In 2014, WHO stated that Indonesia was free from polio. This is an infectious disease that attacks the central nervous system. What is this disease like? Is Indonesia still polio free? Here’s the explanation.
What is polio?
Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a contagious disease caused by viral infection.
This virus can attack the central nervous system and cause damage to the motor nervous system.
This condition can result in paralysis of the muscles, both temporary and permanent.
In more severe cases, polio can affect the ability to breathe and swallow in children.
This disease cannot be completely cured. However, now there are vaccinations that can prevent polio transmission.
Has polio disappeared in Indonesia?
As previously explained, WHO has declared Indonesia polio-free since 2014. In 2021, will this still apply?
In fact, in 2021, there were findings of polio cases in several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia.
WHO conducts an assessment of the risk of polio transmission in Indonesia. The result:
- 23 high-risk provinces (76.5 percent)
- 9 provinces at moderate risk (23.5 percent)
- 2 low risk provinces
Two provinces that have a low risk of contracting this disease are Yogyakarta and Bali.
The increase in cases occurred due to an increase in cases of children who were not immunized, thus herd immunity (group immunity) is reduced.
In 2017, as many as 6 percent of children were not immunized. Then increase to 14 percent in 2021.
Polio immunization of 4 doses has been included in the government program. From the graph shown WHO, polio vaccine has decreased since 2014-2019.
What are the signs and symptoms of polio?
Polio has a variety of signs and symptoms. But sometimes, some children who are infected with the virus do not show any signs and symptoms.
Symptoms that appear also depend on what type of polio is attacking your little one. There are 3 types of infections, namely nonparalytic, paralytic, and postapolio syndrome.
The three of them have slightly different symptoms, along with an explanation.
1. Nonparalytic
Signs and symptoms of the nonparalytic type can last from 1 to 10 days. Symptoms that appear may resemble the common cold, and are accompanied by:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- The body is tired
- Meningitis
The nonparalytic type is also known as abortive polio.
2. Paralitics
Approximately 1 percent of cases of poliomyelitis can develop into the paralytic type.
As the name implies, this type of paralytic can cause paralysis (paralysis) in several parts, namely:
The initial symptoms that appear may not differ much from the nonparalytic symptoms. However, after 1 week, more severe symptoms will appear. The signs include:
- Loss of reflex.
- Pain and severe muscle spasms.
- One part of the body feels weak and weak.
- Paralysis suddenly, can be temporary or permanent.
- The shape of the body parts that are not perfect, especially in the waist, ankles, and feet.
Pay attention if your child feels the symptoms above.
3. Postapolio syndrome
It is possible for the virus to come back again even though the child is cured. This condition can occur about 15 to 40 years after first becoming infected with the virus.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Weak muscles and joints
- Muscle pain that gets worse
- Get tired more easily
- Muscle shrinkage
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing ( dysphagia)
- Depression
- Difficulty remembering and concentrating
It is estimated that around 25-50% of people who recover from polio come back with the signs and symptoms listed above.
If your child has one or more symptoms and other questions regarding polio, consult a doctor.
What causes polio?
This health problem is caused by the polio virus which enters through the oral cavity, nose and spreads into the bloodstream.
Poliomyelitis is highly contagious, generally the virus is found in infected feces.
Transmission can occur in several conditions, such as:
- Exposure to coughs and sneezes from sufferers.
- Lack of access to clean water.
- Poor sanitation.
- Drink water that is contaminated with the virus.
The virus can be caught by coughing or sneezing because it can survive in the throat and intestines. However, it is less common.
What factors increase the risk of polio?
This health problem can happen to almost everyone. This disease does not recognize the age group and racial group of the sufferer.
However, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of getting polio.
The following are risk factors that can trigger a person to develop polio:
- Age of children (0-59 months).
- Never got a polio vaccination shot.
- Pregnant women.
- Sufferers HIV.
- Travel or live in an area with the virus.
- Being in direct proximity to someone who is infected with the virus.
- Have a bad immune system.
- Work in a laboratory and deal with the virus.
- Just had tonsil removal surgery.
- Suffering from severe stress.
Please note that having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely be attacked by certain diseases or health conditions.
In some rare cases, a person can suffer from a disease or health condition without any risk factors.
What are the complications of polio?
Polio, especially the paralytic type, can result in temporary (temporary) or permanent paralysis of the muscles.
In addition, this disease can also cause physical disabilities, bone deformities, and even death.
Children who have had this disease may develop a condition called a syndrome post-polio.
Signs and symptoms include:
- Muscle and joint pain that gets worse
- Muscle shrinkage
- Fatigue for no apparent reason
- It’s easier to get cold
- Experiencing sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea
- Difficulty concentrating
- Decreased memory
- Mood swings, which can lead to depression
This syndrome will appear on average 35 years after the sufferer was first infected.
How is polio diagnosed?
The doctor will do a physical exam to find out if your child has:
- Paralysis or stiffness in the neck and back
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Other body reflexes are unnatural
In addition, to get a more accurate diagnosis, the doctor will take a sample from the spinal cord.
The fluid will be examined in a laboratory for signs of infection.
Polio virus may also be lodged in several parts of the body, such as:
- Throat phlegm
- Feces
- Cerebrospinal fluid (fluid that lines the brain and spinal cord)
Your doctor may also take samples from these areas.
What is the treatment for polio?
Polio is a disease that cannot be completely cured. Some of the types of drugs your doctor may give are:
- Ibuprofen for new pain relief.
- Anti-seizure medication to calm muscles.
- Antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections.
- Ventilator or breathing apparatus.
- Physical therapy to relieve pain.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation to prolong the endurance of lung function.
Existing treatment only focuses on pain relief, preventing health complications, and increasing energy.
How to prevent polio?
This health condition cannot be cured. However, you can prevent this by getting vaccinated.
According to the Indonesian Pediatric Association ( IDAI), polio vaccination can be done through oral polio vaccine (OPV) inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).
Both are given in stages according to the child’s age, with details:
- OPV was given at birth.
- Age 2, 3, 4 months can be given OPV or IPV.
- Age 18 months as booster.
- Between 4-6 years, when the child first enters school.
IPV has the potential to cause allergies in some children. The side effects of this allergy can be hard to breathe, wheezing, accelerated heart rate, to dizziness.
Apart from vaccines, there are several things that can help prevent this disease:
- Make it a habit to bring your own lunch when you go to school.
- Get used to the children to wash their hands.
- Teach children to wear hand sanitizer if there is no soap.
- Make sure the child touches the eyes, nose and mouth with clean hands.
- Teach children to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
If you have questions, consult your doctor to adjust to your little one’s condition.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
