Poliomyelitis
Picornaviruse group virus - a RNA virus
Affect spinal code –anterior horn, cranial nerve motor neurones.
Spread faecal-oral – virus excrete in the faeces.
Vaccination reduced the incident world wide.
Clinical features
Incubation 7-14 days.
Mainly children.
Several types of clinical manifestations.
Inapparent infection – common form, 95% cases.
Abortive poliomyelitis – 4-5% cases, fever, sore throat, and myalgia.
Non-paralytic poliomyelitis – features of abortive with meningeal irritation.
Paralytic poliomyelitis – affect 0.1% affected children, 1.3% adults.
Bulbar poliomyelitis – occur in 5-30% case, cranial nerve involvement.
Post-polio syndrome – increase in muscle atrophy of affected limb many year after primary attack.
Paralytic poliomyelitis
Factors predispose to develop to paralytic form
Male sex, exercise early in illness, trauma.
Start with abortive type and subside after 4-5 days.
Then meningeal irritation, muscle pain.
Asymmetric paralysis, no sensory involvement – mainly lower limbs.
Treatment & prevention
Clinical diagnosis.
Symptomatic treatment – respiratory support, rehabilitation.
Prevention
Immunization – Oral or intramuscular.