Until recently, polio was considered a “disease from the past,” since it was extremely rare. But in connection with new sudden outbreaks of the disease in different regions, the questions: "What is poliomyelitis?" and "How can you protect yourself from it?" again at everyone's ears.
It is important to understand this topic in more detail in order to do everything possible and protect your children.
Poliovirus and polio
So what is polio? This is an acute disease caused by poliovirus. It affects the gray matter of the spinal cord and other parts of the central nervous system. The virus multiplies in the cytoplasm of the affected cells.
As a rule, the disease is diagnosed in young children, less often in adolescents.
Polio classification
Poliomyelitis can be classified according to several parameters, depending on the type, severity and nature of the course of the disease.
1. The type of infection can be divided into two forms:
- typical, during which the central nervous system is affected;
- atypical when the disease goes away without visible symptoms ("minor illness").
2. According to the severity of the disease, poliomyelitis can be divided into three types:
- severe form;
- moderate severity;
- light form.
At the same time, only a doctor can determine the severity by assessing the amount of motor impairment and determining how much intoxication is expressed.
3. By the nature of the course of the disease can be:
- smooth when it passes without any complications;
- nonsmooth, during which there are complications in the form of exacerbation of chronic diseases, attachment of a secondary infection, etc.
The causes of and the spread of the disease
Poliovirus, which is the causative agent of polio, is of three types. They are designated by Roman numerals I, II and III.
Sources of infection: patients with poliomyelitis and carriers of the virus.
The virus is transmitted in three ways:
- By airborne droplets. If the pathogen is in the pharyngeal mucus in a patient or carrier of infection, during coughing or sneezing, the polio virus can enter the respiratory tract of a healthy person and provoke the development of the disease.
- Oral-fecal route. In this case, the infection occurs due to the consumption of unboiled milk with the virus, unwashed fresh vegetables or fruits. The virus can get on food from the feces of a sick person with the help of carriers - flies.
- Household way. The virus is transmitted through the sharing of household items and common utensils.
How to determine polio in a child
The incubation period of the disease lasts an average of 8 to 12 days. Although there are situations when it can take from 5 to 35 days. That is how much time passes from the moment of infection until the first signs of the disease appear. At the same time, severe symptoms of poliomyelitis in children occur only in 10% of patients. In other cases, a possible disease can be found out only by conducting clinical studies.
Before considering the symptoms, you need to remember what poliomyelitis is and what types it is divided into, since the associated symptoms will differ depending on the type of disease.
During an atypical form of infection (“minor illness”), the symptoms of polio in children will be as follows:
- a sharp short-term increase in body temperature to 39-40 degrees;
- moderate intoxication of the body, which manifests itself in the form of diarrhea and vomiting;
- headache;
- stomach ache;
- general ailments;
- drowsiness or insomnia;
- increased sweating.
In addition, a runny nose and sore throat may occur.
The atypical (or abortive) form of infection can often be confused with any other viral disease, since there are no characteristic signs of poliomyelitis.
If the "minor disease" does not go to the next (pre-paralytic) stage, after 3-7 days the child will fully recover.
If the child has become infected with a typical form of infection, the phase of the “minor illness” smoothly transitions to the “major illness” and is accompanied by additional symptoms:
- increased headache;
- back and neck pains;
- pain in the limbs;
- increased muscle fatigue.
Clinical examinations and analyzes during this stage show an increase in pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid, a decrease in the level of protein in the body, an increase in the number of leukocytes.
In the absence of paralysis, body temperature normalizes by the end of the second week of the disease, and by the end of the third, all other symptoms completely disappear.
The disease becomes paralytic only in 1 case out of 1000. Then the following symptoms join the main symptoms:
- muscle twitches;
- urinary retention;
- the appearance of paresis and paralysis of the muscles of the limbs and trunk.
Depending on the affected part of the spinal cord, paralysis can occur in the lumbar, thoracic or cervical regions. Most often, lumbar paralysis occurs.
The end of the paralytic period is accompanied by curvature of the spine, deformation and shortening of the limbs, which leads to their complete incapacity.
Complications and consequences after polio
If polio was in an abortive form, it will not bear any negative consequences and will not affect the future life of the child in any way.
If the disease has entered the phase of paralysis, the situation for the patient becomes critical. With damage to the spinal cord, its size is significantly reduced, and the motor abilities of the limbs are reduced. In cases of untimely or complete lack of the necessary treatment, a person becomes an disabled person for life due to muscle atrophy and paresis.
If paralysis reaches the thoracic region, even death is possible due to respiratory arrest, which occurs during paralysis of the intercostal muscles and diaphragm.
Polio treatment
Treatment is carried out exclusively in a hospital.
There is no special cure for polio, so the therapy is symptomatic. The patient is regularly brought down with high fever, injected painkillers and sedatives. In addition, a course of vitamin therapy (vitamins B6, B12, B1, C), amino acids, gamma globulin is prescribed.
During the acute stage of the disease, patients are shown strict bed rest for up to 3 weeks.
If there is paralysis of the thoracic region, the patient is placed on mechanical ventilation.
Much attention is paid to paralyzed limbs and spine. Doctors make sure that all parts of the body are in a natural position.
The legs are placed parallel to each other, under the knees and hips put rollers. The feet should be perpendicular to the legs, for this a dense pillow is placed under the soles.
Hands are spread apart and bent at the elbows at an angle of 90 degrees.
To improve neuromuscular conduction, the patient is prescribed "Neuromidine", "Dibazol", "Proserin".
In the infectious ward, treatment lasts about 2-3 weeks. After it follows a recovery period - first in a hospital, then on an outpatient basis. Recovery consists of classes with an orthopedist, water procedures, therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy.
After polio, spa treatment is recommended.
Polio prevention
It is important to remember that a patient with polio must be isolated from others for a period of at least 6 weeks, since he is a carrier of the virus.
To protect yourself from this disease, we must not forget about the causes of its occurrence (if this is not an epidemic). All edible vegetables and fruits should be washed well under clean running water. Be sure to wash your hands (preferably with soap) before eating and after walking on the street and visiting the toilet.
Unfortunately, the above measures only reduce the likelihood of the disease, but do not protect against it. The most effective and effective method of protection against the virus remains the development of immunity from poliomyelitis. This is achieved thanks to modern vaccination, which begins already in the first months of the baby's life.
Polio vaccines
Vaccination is one of the main ways to prevent polio.
There are two types of vaccines:
- OPV (attenuated poliovirus) is a live polio virus (Sabin vaccine).
- IPV (inactivated poliovirus) - contains polioviruses killed by formalin.
Each type of vaccine has its own characteristics and contraindications, so it is worth considering each of them individually.
OPV vaccine
OPV vaccination is carried out by instilling 2-4 drops of the drug into the baby's mouth (on the lymphoid tissue of the pharynx or tonsil, depending on the age of the child).
So that the vaccine does not go into the stomach, after drops of polio, you can not feed and drink the child for one hour.
Before vaccination, it is forbidden to introduce new products into the child’s diet.
Before vaccination, it is necessary to buy antipyretic and anti-allergenic drugs in advance .
As a precaution, some time after vaccination, you can not kiss the child on the lips and you must always wash your hands after hygiene procedures and washing the baby.
OPV vaccination is contraindicated if:
- the child or family members have congenital immunodeficiency or HIV;
- surrounded by pregnant or lactating women;
- the parents of the child are planning another pregnancy;
- side effects have occurred after previous OPV vaccination;
- there is an allergy to the components of the vaccine (streptomycin, polymyxin B, neomycin).
Many parents are interested in the question of whether polio can be given (vaccination) when a child is diagnosed with an infectious or viral disease. The answer is unequivocal: no! In this case, the vaccine is given only after recovery.
IPV vaccine
IPV is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. It is indicated in cases where:
- a child has weak immunity from birth;
- the child has a pregnant mother.
Also, this vaccine is used by medical workers who often come in contact with patients.
Before vaccination, it is necessary to check the availability of antiallergenic drugs and antipyretic drugs in the home medicine cabinet.
It is forbidden to introduce new products into the diet in order to avoid a possible allergic reaction.
Polio (vaccination): complications and side effects
In the event of the following effects, medical intervention is not required:
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (one-time);
- nervousness increase;
- swelling or pain at the injection site;
- headache;
- temperature after polio vaccination - can reach 38.5 degrees.
To help the child and improve his well-being, you need to give him an antipyretic in the form of a suspension or paracetamol suppository. As a rule, as soon as the temperature drops to normal, the accompanying signs of malaise disappear: nausea, vomiting, headaches, nagging in the muscles.
In some cases, the doctor advises giving the child an antipyretic immediately upon returning home, without waiting for the temperature to rise.
However, there are situations when you need to see a doctor as soon as possible or call an ambulance:
- the child has shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
- the temperature has risen above 39 degrees and does not get off with the help of antipyretic drugs;
- the child has become lethargic and inactive;
- the baby has drowsiness and apathy;
- itching or hives appeared at the site of vaccination or throughout the body;
- even slight swelling of the face or eyes appeared;
- difficulty swallowing.
Polio vaccination : vaccination schedule for children
Polio vaccination is carried out according to the schedule approved by the Ministry of Health:
1. The first injection of diphtheria and polio is given to the child at the age of three months.
2. The second injection is done 45 days after the first - in 4.5 months.
3. The third and final injection of the polio vaccine is given when the child is 6 years old.
Revaccination as an essential component of protection against the disease
The polio revaccination procedure helps develop a child's lifelong immunity to this disease. It is done at the age of 18 and 24 months, and after - at 6 years, after the last vaccination.
Surveys showed that after vaccination with DTP and polio, the likelihood of the disease approaches zero. This once again proves the effectiveness of vaccination, and the parents of vaccinated children know what poliomyelitis is, only theoretically and, fortunately, they will never see its manifestations in practice.