General Information About Poliomyelitis
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a contagious disease in which the poliovirus, which settles in the intestines, enters the bloodstream and destroys the motor nerves in the spinal cord, causing permanent muscle paralysis.
It lives only in humans. It spreads rapidly through the oral ingestion of water and food contaminated with the feces of infected individuals (fecal-oral route), or rarely through respiratory droplets.
Initially, high fever, fatigue, headache, and vomiting are seen. When the disease reaches the spinal cord, severe neck stiffness, muscle pain, and irreversible flaccid paralysis in the legs (or arms) develop.
No. 90% of those who catch the virus recover from the illness with mild flu-like symptoms. In about 1% of patients, the virus reaches the central nervous system, creating paralysis, and becomes fatal if it affects the respiratory muscles.
There is no specific antiviral drug or cure to eliminate the poliomyelitis virus. When paralysis develops, this damage is lifelong and permanent. Treatment focuses solely on keeping the patient alive (ventilator support) and physical therapy.
There is no cure for the disease, but protection is nearly 100%. The only way to prevent the disease is to fully complete the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) or Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) included in the childhood vaccination schedule.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
