Recall how polio is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
Polio or poliomyelitis is a type of an infectious disease that results in weakening of muscles and inability to move. The causative agent of polio is poliovirus. Poliovirus spreads through intake of water or food contaminated with human feces and in rare case through infected saliva.
Approximately 70% of infected people show no symptom of infection while 25% shows mild symptoms. For diagnosis of the infection, doctors look for symptoms like stiffness in back and neck, difficulty in breathing and swallowing and abnormal reflexes. Further examination of stool, cerebrospinal fluid or throat secretion confirms the presence of infection.
There is no targeted treatment for polio. Doctors focus on preventing complications, speeding recovery and increasing comfort of the patient by providing him pain relievers, ventilators for assisting in breathing, and antibiotics. Nutritious diet and moderate exercise prevents loss of functions of muscles and any kind of deformity.
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