A highly infectious virus that lives in the digestive tract which is transferred via faecal – oral route either by being exposed to farcically contaminated food and water.
It then moves to the nervous system where it is believed to attack the cells that affect the signals from ones brain to their muscles.
Symptoms appear three –twenty one days after exposure.
Isolation period
At least 6 weeks after symptom onset, as the virus can be shed in stool for several weeks.
Handwashing
Good hand hygiene is essential, especially after using the toilet or handling diapers. Consider to use gloves and gowns if one wishes to take seps further when there is potential contact with faeces or contaminated materials.
Diagnosis Tests
Throat washing
Throat swabs
Stool samples
PCR tests
Viral culture
Cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF)
Spinal tap and CSF examinations
Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies – check for nerve function
Type 2 – when weak polio virus in vaccine mutates and causes symptoms
Type 3 – rare
Areas of poor sanitation, from infected persons faeces to mouth via drinking water and contaminated food (transmitted by the faecal-oral route, when someone ingests food or water that is contaminated, either through poor personal hygiene or by sewage water entering the food chain).
Direct contact: Kissing
Source: SlideShare
Source: Los Angeles Times
Symptoms
Symptoms can be mild:
High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
Sore throat longer than seven days?
Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
One can develop Post-Polio syndrome 15- 40 years after the initial infection (medical emergency)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is polio. For healthcare providers. Reviewed: May 1, 2023. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/polio/what-is-polio/hcp.html. Accessed May 12, 2023.
Vaccination
Household contacts should ensure they are up to date with polio vaccination.
Make sure when one goes to an infectious country your travel vaccines and booster doses (please do at least six weeks before travel) including polio is up to date.
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Polio in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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