Transmission
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Most transmission is by person-to-person contact through fecal matter. Also, it can also be transmitted through sneezing or coughing. Once the virus enters the mouth it will spread to the throat and travel to the intestine. [3]
Areas with poor sanitation have a higher risk of spreading the disease. [4] Water supplies can become contaminated with infected fecal matter. When the water supply is untreated or people use water from contaminated waterways to wash their hands or in cooking, the virus can easily spread from person to person. The virus has the ability to live in an infected person's feces for many weeks. [3]
Areas with poor sanitation have a higher risk of spreading the disease. [4] Water supplies can become contaminated with infected fecal matter. When the water supply is untreated or people use water from contaminated waterways to wash their hands or in cooking, the virus can easily spread from person to person. The virus has the ability to live in an infected person's feces for many weeks. [3]
Symptoms
People infected can have a different severity of symptoms with some having not symptoms at all.
According to the CDC [3] and Mayo Clinic: [10]
Polio can cause permanent muscle damage, disability, and death. People can die when the muscles that help them breath become weak or paralyzed. [3]
People can also have post-polio syndrome. When children do recover from polio, 15 to 40 years later they can experience new muscle pains, weakness, or paralysis. [3, 10]
According to the CDC [3] and Mayo Clinic: [10]
- Close to 70% of those infected will have have no visible symptoms. This is sometimes referred to as non-paralytic polio since paralysis does not occur. [10]
- About 25% of those infected have flu-like symptoms that can include:
- sore throat
- fever
- fatigue
- nausea
- headache
- stomach pain
- neck or back pain
- stiffness of neck or back
- muscle aches
- These can last two to five days and the usually go away on their own.
- Others will also experience more severe symptoms when the virus affects the CNS. About 4% of those infected could experience:
- feelings of pins and needles in the legs
- weakness in arms, legs, or both
- paralysis of arms, legs, or both
Polio can cause permanent muscle damage, disability, and death. People can die when the muscles that help them breath become weak or paralyzed. [3]
People can also have post-polio syndrome. When children do recover from polio, 15 to 40 years later they can experience new muscle pains, weakness, or paralysis. [3, 10]
Risk Factors
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Children under five years are the ones most at risk of being affected by poliomyelitis. Especially those who are not vaccinated. [1]
Others at risk factors include no or improper sanitation facilities and lack of personal hygiene. [4]
Others at risk factors include no or improper sanitation facilities and lack of personal hygiene. [4]