This document discusses poliomyelitis (polio), an acute viral infectious disease that can cause paralysis. It is caused by three types of poliovirus and primarily affects children and the unvaccinated. The document covers the history, causes, clinical presentation, investigations, treatment, complications, differential diagnosis, prevention, prognosis, and references regarding polio. Polio cases have declined over 99% since vaccination programs were implemented globally for its eradication. Prevention focuses on vaccination, education, and early detection/treatment.

1. POLIOMYELITIS
BY
DR.ISAHABIODUN
DEPT OF FAMILY MEDICINE
FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, KEFFI

2. INTRODUCTION
 An acute viral infectious disease with a propensity for the central
nervous system which can lead to partial or full paralysis.
 Dates back to prehistoric times.
 Jakob Heine – 1840, Karl landsteiner -1908
 Epidemics >> “Great Race”
 Targeted For eradication
 Polio case numbers have decreased by 99%

3. CAUSES, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, RISK
FACTORS
 Poliovirus:Types 1,2 and 3
 Risk Factors
 The unimmunized.
 HealthWorkers
 Travel to endemic areas
 Pregnant women
 Children
 Elderly

4. CLINICAL PRESENTATION
Presentation is based on the type:
 Abortive poliomyelitis
 Non-paralytic poliomyelitis
 Paralytic poliomyelitis
• Spinal
• Bulbar
• Bulbospinal

5. INVESTIGATIONS, TREATMENT
 Recovery of virus
 Serology : IgG
Anti Ig M
 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) :Wild type
Vaccine type
 CSF Analysis
 Imaging:MRI
 Treatment is supportive
Analgesic
Antibiotics
Physiotherapy
Orhopedic surgery

6. COMPLICATION
 Skeletal deformities
 Tightening of the joints
 Movement disability
 Scoliosis
 Ostesporosis
 Increased likelihood of
bone fracture
 Compression
neuropathy
 Pulmonary oedema
 Aspiration pneumonia
 Urinary tract infections
 Kidney stone
 Paralytic ileus
 Myocarditis
 Corpulmonale

7. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
 Guillian – Barre syndrome
 Viral Encephalitis
 Meningitis
 BrainTumours
 Bacillary dysentry

8. PREVENTION
 Primary prevention
 Education- public, heath care workers, & travelers
 Avoid travel to areas known to have polio
outbreaks
 Vaccination
 Secondary prevention-Early
detection/diagnosis and prompt treatment
 Tertiary prevention- Rehabilitation

9. PROGNOSIS
 Paralysis lasting > 12months tends to be
permanent.
 50% of people with paralytic polio recover
completely
 25 -50% of paralytic polio survivors develop
Post-polio syndrome

10. REFERENCES
 Modlin JF. Poliovirus:Principles and practice
of infectious diseases.&th ed. Elsevier
churchill Livinstone; 2009:chap 171
 RacanielloVR. One hundred years of
poliovirus pathogenesis.Virology. Jan 5
2006;344(1):9-16
 Adams RD,Victor M, RopperAH.Viral
infection. In: Poliomyelitis . Principle of
neurology. 6th ed. 1997 136-7