Polio (Poliomyelitis) is an infectious disease caused by poliovirus. The virus can cause crippling and sometimes death of young children who contract poliovirus. The disease impacts the brain and spinal cord of individuals, leaving them paralyzed.
History
The origin of polio is not fully known because some researchers believe that polio dates back to 1580-1350 B.C. This is based on finding of an Egyptian stele that depicts a man having deformed leg, a symptom and sign of polio.
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Wordpress. (2010, February 23). Polio is an ancient phenomenon. Retrieved June 13, 2015, from https://kickpoliooutofafrica.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/polio-is-an-ancient-phenomenon/ |
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dm52sa.html
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| PBS. (n.d.). Salk produces polio vaccine. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dm52sa.html |
In 1958 ad 1959 the Oral (Live) Polio Vaccine (OPV) was created by Albert B. Sabine and tested on many individuals from former Soviet Union and later approved for use in United States. OPV is the type of vaccine used in present day (Roosevelt, 2011) and more information can be read about Sabine and hist invention can be read at the site below:
http://www.polioplace.org/people/albert-b-sabin-md
In 1980, there was a global approach to immunization against polio. As indicated by World Health Organization graph, since the 1980, there was a decline in number of cases of poliomyelitis reported and this can be due to an increase in the percentage of immunization against polio that is occurring worldwide.
What is Poliovirus?
Poliovirus is an enterovirus that has the RNA genome in the capsid, which is a protein shell. This virus causes polio and there are three different subtypes of it that differ in their capsid protein. According to Global Polio Eradication Initiative, type 2 polio has been eliminated worldwide, however, type 1 and type 3 are most infections and still cause paralytic polio around the world ( The Global Polio Eradication Initiative).
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| NMAH. (2015). Polio: How the Poliovirus Works. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/polio/virusvaccine/how.htm |
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| NMAH. (2015). Polio: How the Poliovirus Works. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/polio/virusvaccine/how.htm |
Symptoms of Poliovirus
According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are various response to poliovirus depending on individual and their immune system. For example, 72 out 100 individuals do not show visible symptoms upon contraction of disease. Of those who contract the disease, one out four individuals will show symptoms such as sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, and stomach pain with the duration of 2 to 5 days. Other individuals show critical symptoms upon contraction of poliovirus, such as paresthesia, meningitis and paralysis. Paresthesia is sensing needle-like feelings in leg. Meningitis is a type of infection that impacts brain and results in 1 out 25 individuals who have the virus. On the other hand, paralysis is the most crucial symptom of poliovirus, causing weakness of body, and is typically the symptom of one out 200 individuals who have poliovirus. Paralysis is the most dangerous symptom because according to CDC, 2 to 10 out of 100 individuals can loose their lives if they have paralysis since it can cause weakening of "muscles that help [these individuals] breathe". Individuals who depict symptoms of paralysis due to poliovirus are considered to have poliomyelitis, polio (CDC, 2014).
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| Emaze presentations. (n.d.). Disease Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://app.emaze.com/@AOICCFCR/disease-hall-of-fame#1 |
How To Detect Polio and Who Are At Risk
In order to determine if an individual has polio, the amount of poliovirus in an individual needs to be detected. Doctors confirm poliovirus infection by asking for samples of throat, feces, and cerebrospinal fluid of individuals who may be have contrctred the disease. Based on these samples, the presence of virus can be detected (CDC, 2014).
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| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014, May 1). Our Progress Against Polio. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/polio/progress/ |
Although there is no cure to polio, it still has decreased dramatically since the 1980 global immunization and according to World Health Organization, "polio cases have decreased ... from an estimated more than 350,000 cases to 416 cases in 2013". However, there are only three nations in the world, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, that still show transmission of polio (WHO, 2014). This is still dangerous given that polio is an infectious disease that could be introduced through immigration and outbreaks could occur if children are not vaccinated against it. As outlined in the video linked below, nations like Pakistan struggle to get their children immunized against polio due to social problems and poverty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5-MVm3Itdk
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014, May 1). Our Progress Against Polio. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/polio/progress/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014, October 15). What Is Polio? Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/polio/about/
Emaze presentations. (n.d.). Disease Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 15, 2015, from http://app.emaze.com/@AOICCFCR/disease-hall-of-fame#1
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative. (2010). Polio. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.polioeradication.org/Polioandprevention/Thevirus.aspx
PBS. (n.d.). Salk produces polio vaccine. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dm52sa.html
Roosevelt Warm Springs Foundation. (2011). Polio Place. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.polioplace.org/people/albert-b-sabin-md
Wordpress. (2010, February 23). Polio is an ancient phenomenon. Retrieved June 13, 2015, from https://kickpoliooutofafrica.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/polio-is-an-ancient-phenomenon/
World Health Organization (WHO). (2014, October 1). Poliomyelitis. Retrieved June 19, 2015, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/
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