Some Significant Post-Polio Blog Facts

By Ericka Marsh


Some diseases are rare but have far reaching effects than those which are commonly encountered. Polio virus infection is one such rare disease. It usually affects children under the age of fifteen years but rarely adults. All the same, the disease may recur in a new form in fifteen to thirty years after the initial infection. This is what is termed as post polio syndrome. Post-polio blog outline this phenomenon in more details.

Once a person survives initial disease attack, it takes a long duration of time for the new symptoms to present. These symptoms imitate those of the previous disease and may be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. The symptoms include loss of muscle mass, pain, body malaise and fatigue. Occasionally, other symptoms may appear depending on body parts affected.

When mechanisms of action of a disease is well understood then even control and management becomes easier; otherwise, managing it becomes difficult. For this particular disease, mechanisms of action remain unknown. All information available is about theories. Some of these theories are more acceptable than others. The most accepted theory talks of neural fatigue. In this theory, it is explained that remaining nerve cells that survive viral attack assumes the function of all other dead ones. Because of this, they are later overwhelmed leading to later expressions observed.

Unlike many other diseases, diagnosing this illness pose a challenge and therefore might often be misdiagnosed. Diagnosis is basically dependent upon clear history taking. Three features point to this illness and they include previous infection by polio virus, long period of time from the time of initial infection and finally; gradual onset of weakness as well as body malaise.

Treatment is mainly intended to relieve symptoms and preserve body function. It is more of a palliative intervention. One intervention involved is bed rest. In this state, one avoids straining and therefore is well rested. Similarly, some activities like movement may be achieved by aid of powered wheelchairs that reduces need for physical energy during movement. A second intervention is use of pain killers. These are drugs intended to block pain and therefore limit distress associated with it.

Of all the symptoms, fatigue is the most conspicuous and very distressing symptom. Nearly all persons with this syndrome complain of fatigue. They points out fatigue as one most undesired feature. To effectively handle this feature, a number of options are employed. These include fatigue medication, weight reduction, workload reduction as well as change of life style.

Prognosis is good for persons suffering from this illness. Most persons affected recover fully to their previous state of health. However, a number of victims succumb to their illness when vital body functions are impaired. One such case may involve compromise of respiratory muscles. Recovery usually takes a longer time but this dependent upon several factors and individual differences. Despite being a progressive disease, case fatality is low and only a quarter of all victims succumb to it.

All persons desire good life. For this reason, all individuals should strive to utilize available preventive measures rather than treat an infection.. Some of these measures include proper hygiene and immunization during childhood. This is the only sure way of preventing post polio syndrome.




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