Amanda's+Science+Page

Polio

Definitions Polio is a contagious and is a viral sickness that in its most horrible or severe form can cause paralysis, hard to breathe, and sometimes-even death!! In the U.S, the last case of Polio was in 1979.

Symptoms Polio can cause paralysis and also s ometimes death! The vast majority of people have the Polio virus do not become sick or are not ever aware that they have been having the disease. Some people who developed symptoms from the virus contract non-paralytic Polio-a type of Polio that does not lead to paralysis (abortive Polio). This usually causes the same mild flu-like signs and symptoms more- likely of other viral sickness, signs, which generally lasts 1-10 days including: fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue, back pain or stiffness, neck pain or stiffness, pain or stiffness inthe arms or legs, muscle spasms or tenderness or meningitis. In rare cases of Polio, virus infection leads to paralytic Polio, the most serious form of the disease! Paralytic Polio has several types based on the part of the body that is affected- your spinal cord (spinal Polio), your brainstem (bulbar Polio) or both (bulbar spinal Polio). Intentional signs and symptoms of paralytic Polio, such as fever and headache. Often mimic those of non-paralytic Polio. Within a week, however, signs specific to paralytic Polio appear, including: loss of reflexes, severe muscle aches or spasms, or loose and floppy limbs, often worse on one side of the body.

Causes The smallest but harshest viruses that infect humans named entry viruses that are owned by the pecorino virus family cause polio and people are the only known reservoir.

T reatments The goal of treatment is to have symptoms while the infection runs its way through. People with really bad cases of polio may need life saving measures and very importantly, breathing help. Symptoms are cared based on how bad they have polio.

A cure Although there is no cure for polio, there are some vaccines to help prevent polio.

Cool facts There are 3 types of polio. The virus is found in saliva and feces of really sick people. Polio is a very rare disease to get because it is so old.