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(Picture taken from http://www.cdc.gov/)
The incubation
period is commonly 6 to 20 days.The
response to a poliovirus infection is highly variable and has been separated
into 4 sub categories of infection.
1.Subclinical,
asymptomatic.(Accounts
for 95% of all polio infections.)
i.No
symptoms and are usually unaware of the infection at all.
ii.Virus
is shed in stool, and thus able to infect another host organism.
2.
Minor, non-specific illness. Aka. Abortive Poliomyelitis(4%-8%
of all polio infections.)
i.Minor,
nonspecific illnesses with no evidence of central nervous system invasion.
ii.Might
experience: flu-like symptoms
a.Upper
respiratory tract infection which includes sore throat and fever
b.Some
nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain constipation.
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3.
Nonparalytic aseptic meningitis.
(1%-2%
of polio infections.)
i.Stiffness
of the neck, back, and legs.
ii.Headache,
vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue. iii.Duration
of 2 to 10 days, followed by complete recovery. iv.Less
than 2% of all polio infections result in flaccid paralysis. Additional
symptoms can include a loss of superficial reflexes, deep tendon reflexes
and severe muscle aches and spasms in the limbs or back. Possible progression
to flaccid paralysis with diminished deep tendon reflexes, and is usually
asymmetrical. Strength then begins to return as repaired motorneurons
begin reinnervating their motor units. |
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Paralytic polio is sub classified into three types, depending on the level of involvement.Usually includes constipation, difficulty to urinate, bloated feeling of abdomen, headache, and abnormal sensation.
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1.
Spinal paralytic poliomyelitis:79%
of Paretic polio
i.Paresis
of trunk muscles or limb muscles
ii.Effected
limbs tend to be the lower extremities. 2. Bulbuar
paralytic poliomyelitis: 2% of Paretic polio i.Leads
to weakness of muscles innervated by the cranialnerves. ii.Difficulty
in swallowing, loss of voice quality, and tongue and facial paralysis. 3. Bulbospinal
paralytic poliomyelitis:19% of Paretic
polio i.Leads
to severe respiratory impairment.
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1. The poliovirus may be found from the stool or pharynx of a person with poliomyelitis.
2. Isolation from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is diagnostic, but rarely accomplished. 3. Antibodies appear early and may have expanded by the time the patient reaches the hospital, therefore a tremendous rise in antibodies may not always be observed.
4. The CSF in poliovirus infection usually contains an increased number of white blood cells (10 to 200 cells/mm 3, primarily lymphocytes) and a mildly elevated protein from40 to 50 mg/100 ml