What Are The Symptoms Of Polio?

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a severe illness caused by a virus called poliovirus. The majority of polio cases are asymptomatic or occur without noticeable symptoms. There are two classifications of symptomatic polio: paralytic and non-paralytic. Poliovirus is highly contagious and can be spread through direct contact with an infected individual through feces, food, and the water supply. Once poliovirus enters a host, it colonizes in the intestinal and throat tissues. Without swift medical intervention, the virus mobilizes in the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. Thankfully, a vaccine to prevent polio is available. Polio can be detected through secretions in the throat, cerebrospinal fluid, and stool. Because polio cannot be cured, treatment consists of preventing complications and managing symptoms.

Polio has several classic symptoms. Get to know them now.

Neck And Back Pain

Neck and back pain are common symptoms that occur in individuals with non-paralytic polio and paralytic polio. The poliovirus enters the body and expends into the mesenteric and cervical lymph nodes. From there, it moves into the bloodstream and is enabled to colonize in extraneural regions to maintain a stronghold on its host. This process is thought to increase the probability the virus will attack the nervous system. Pain and stiffness in the back and the neck happen as a result of the virus entering the affected individual's blood, and the immune response summoned to mediate this viremia. This mechanism causes membranes around the spinal cord to become inflamed and swollen. The neck and back pain is said to be identical to that in other forms of infection precipitated meningitis. Abnormal behaviors of autonomic function due to polio affecting the individual's nervous system can compound the inflammation around the spinal cord that causes neck and back pain.

Uncover more information on the symptoms of polio now.