Polio Symptoms

Polio infection may be mild causing no symptoms, or three to 21 days after infection a slight fever and sore throat may develop.

When severe it may cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord with severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, and backache. Sometimes paralysis of one or more limbs may occur. If the respiratory muscles are affected then breathing becomes difficult.

Who is affected by Polio?

Polio mainly affects people who have not been immunised. Many parts of the world are now polio-free following successful immunisation programmes and immunisation is an effective way of preventing polio infection.

Routine immunisation is offered to babies and booster doses are given before children go to and after they leave school. Travellers to high-risk countries may need additional boosters.

Polio treatment and diagnosis

There is no specific treatment for polio infection. Symptomatic therapy with painkillers, for example, is usually all that's necessary when infection is mild.

If the infection is severe then admission to hospital may be needed particularly if respiration is affected when ventilation may be necessary. Those with paralysis can be helped to regain function in the affected limb or limbs with physiotherapy.

Further help

British Polio Fellowship
Eagle Office Centre, The Runway, South Ruislip HA4 6SE
Freephone: 0800 0180586
www.britishpolio.org

Post-PolioUK
34 Tyler Court, Jaffray Road, Erdington, Birmingham B24 8AY
Tel : 0121 240 1239
Fax: 0116 2209189
www.post-poliouk.org

See the parents guide giving answers to common immunisation questions.