By Uzoamaka Anita Asiegbu
It is October 24 and I am sure you have realized by now that almost every day the world is celebrating one thing or the other. There is World Malaria day, Cancer day, Parents day and even World Toilet day, yes toilet o, ask Google if you doubt me. So today October 24th on world calendar is World Polio Day established by Rotary International over a decade ago to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. I know a lot of persons who are ignorant of this evil called polio and considering the fact that Nigeria is on the verge of being declared polio-free, I have decided to educate us on polio. Your ignorance may cause us to break our good record of 3 years without any known cases of polio.
What is Polio?
Poliomyelitis also known as Polio is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through contaminated water or food or contact with an infected person, it most commonly affects children under the age of 5.
Types of Polio
Paralytic polio: is a type of polio that causes paralysis of one’s limbs. Initial signs and symptoms of paralytic polio, such as fever and headache. Later effects are loss of reflexes, severe muscle aches or weakness, loose and floppy limbs (flaccid paralysis). Paralytic polio can lead to temporary or permanent muscle paralysis, disability, bone deformities, and death.
Non-Paralytic polio: is also known as abortive polio. It is a mild type of polio and the symptoms tend to disappear. Signs and symptoms, which can last up to 10 days, include fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, fatigue, back pain or stiffness, neck pain or stiffness, pain or stiffness in the arms or legs, muscle weakness or tenderness.
Prevention of Polio
The most effective way to prevent polio is vaccination. The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is usually administered to children in four doses at the following ages: Two months, Four months, Between 6 and 18 months, Between ages 4 and 6 when children are just entering school.
However, the vaccine is not restricted to children alone. Adults are usually immune, with low chances of contracting polio. However, certain adults can be at risk of polio, adults at risk include those who are traveling to parts of the world where polio still occurs or those who care for people who have polio. Also if you’re unvaccinated or your vaccination status is undocumented, you are advised to get a series of primary polio vaccination shots.
Post-Polio Syndrome
Finally…
I didn’t mean to scare you with the aforementioned effects of polio, it is a cruel virus and I don’t wish it on anyone. Also, you should know that as of August 2019, Nigeria recorded 3 years without a fresh case of polio. It is a mighty achievement when compared to some countries that have been polio-free for 10 years and counting.
It might interest you to know that this is not our first celebration, in 2016, Nigeria was supposed to celebrate 5 years polio-free but a new case surfaced. Let’s just hope and pray that we sustain the eradication this time around.
I hope you learned something today. Kudos to all polio survivors in the world. May we live to celebrate the total eradication of polio worldwide.
Like many diseases, polio has after-effects. Survivors usually suffer from post-polio syndrome. Post-polio syndrome is a cluster of disabling signs and symptoms that affect some people years after having polio. Common signs and symptoms include progressive muscle or joint weakness and pain, fatigue, muscle wasting (atrophy), breathing or swallowing problems, sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea, decreased tolerance of cold temperatures.
