Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is a condition caused by a highly infectious virus. For most people, polio is a mild illness and only causes flu-like symptoms. However, for others, polio is a potentially fatal condition that can cause severe muscle paralysis (paralytic polio). This is because a severe case of polio attacks the nerve cells that help the muscles to function.
Polio is now a rare condition
In the past, polio was a very common condition. It was a frequent cause of death and paralysis all over the world, particularly in young children. However, today, as a result of widespread vaccination, the number of polio cases has been dramatically reduced.
Since 1993, there have not been any cases of polio in the UK, and there are now only four countries where the condition remains a serious problem. These are Nigeria, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
There is no cure for polio. This is why the best way to deal with the condition is to prevent it. It is therefore very important that you make sure that your child receives all of the necessary immunisations as he or she is growing up.
Post-polio syndrome
Post-polio syndrome is a condition that affects approximately 20-66% of people who have had polio. You may develop post-polio syndrome between 10 and 40 years after your initial illness. The syndrome can cause new muscle pain and weakness, and can also leave you feeling fatigued and lethargic. This may make it difficult for you to get around, or carry out everyday tasks and activities.
It is not known what causes post-polio syndrome. Some theories suggest that the polio virus can sometimes lie dormant in your system after your original infection because your immune system has not completely destroyed it. This dormant virus can then become re-activated, although it is not known what triggers this re-activation.
Other theories suggest that the syndrome is the result of damaged nerve cells that gradually deteriorate over time.
In recent years, post-polio syndrome has become a more common condition in the UK, largely due to the high number of polio cases during the 1940s and 1950s. However, now that polio is no longer naturally active in the UK, post-polio syndrome should become much more rare in the future.
