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    Polio

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    Husain Tamimie
    Polio is caused by a virus that infects the intestinal tract and can sometimes cause paralysis. While most polio infections do not cause serious illness, some people may develop meningitis or become paralyzed. Polio spreads through contact with the infected stool or throat secretions of an infected person. There is no treatment for polio other than relieving symptoms, so prevention through vaccination is important. The inactivated polio vaccine is safe and effective for preventing polio infection.

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    Polio

    Uploaded by

    Husain Tamimie
    25 views2 pages
    Polio is caused by a virus that infects the intestinal tract and can sometimes cause paralysis. While most polio infections do not cause serious illness, some people may develop meningitis or become paralyzed. Polio spreads through contact with the infected stool or throat secretions of an infected person. There is no treatment for polio other than relieving symptoms, so prevention through vaccination is important. The inactivated polio vaccine is safe and effective for preventing polio infection.

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    Polio is caused by a virus that infects the intestinal tract and can sometimes cause paralysis. While most polio infections do not cause serious illness, some people may develop meningitis or become paralyzed. Polio spreads through contact with the infected stool or throat secretions of an infected person. There is no treatment for polio other than relieving symptoms, so prevention through vaccination is important. The inactivated polio vaccine is safe and effective for preventing polio infection.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    25 views2 pages

    Polio

    Uploaded by

    Husain Tamimie
    Polio is caused by a virus that infects the intestinal tract and can sometimes cause paralysis. While most polio infections do not cause serious illness, some people may develop meningitis or become paralyzed. Polio spreads through contact with the infected stool or throat secretions of an infected person. There is no treatment for polio other than relieving symptoms, so prevention through vaccination is important. The inactivated polio vaccine is safe and effective for preventing polio infection.

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    AboutPoliomyelitis (polio)

    What is polio?
    Polio is caused by a virus that infects the intestinal tract. Most infections do not cause serious
    illness. However, some people may develop meningitis or become paralyzed. Since 1979, the
    only polio disease cases reported in the United States have been imported from other countries
    or associated with the oral polio vaccination, which is no longer offered in the United States.
    What are the symptoms of polio?
    Most persons infected with polio do not develop symptoms at all or may have mild symptoms.
    Symptoms usually occur 3-35 days after exposure. Mild symptoms include fever, tiredness,
    headache, sore throat, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, the illness becomes more severe,
    and symptoms include severe muscle pain and stiffness in the neck and back. Muscle paralysis
    may occur in a small percentage of cases, and death may occur if breathing muscles become
    paralyzed.

    How is polio spread?


    Polio is spread through contact with the stool or throat secretions of an infected person.
    Poliovirus must be swallowed to cause infection. This can happen easily when contaminated
    hands or objects are put into the mouth.

    How do I know if I have polio?


    Polio is usually associated with travel to a country where it does occur,.If you have been exposed
    to someone diagnosed with polio and have experienced the symptoms described, see your health
    care provider, Other illnesses may cause symptoms that resemble polio.

    How is polio treated?


    Since polio is caused by a virus, antibiotics are ineffective. Currently, there are no antiviral
    medications used to treat polio. Treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms of the illness.

    How can polio be prevented?


    The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is safe and effective for preventing polio infection. This
    vaccine is given by injection. Most schools and licensed child-care providers require proof of
    vaccination or immunity to polio before enrollment. If you have not had polio and/or have no
    record of having the polio vaccine, see your health care provider to decide if you should receive
    the vaccine. Since there are countries in the world that still have active polio disease, it is
    important for travelers to receive the polio vaccine.
    For additional information on polio, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    (CDC) Web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/polio.pdf.

    This page was last reviewed on August 15, 2007

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