What Are The Symptoms Of Polio?

Body Stiffness

Body stiffness, where an individual has to exert extra strength and effort to move body parts accompanied by tightness, pain, and decreased range of motion, can occur in any of the early and post-polio stages. Some patients describe body stiffness is an inability to perform a normal stretching without painful sensations. Body stiffness is a common characteristic of systemic inflammatory diseases or conditions like arthritis, spondylitis, and spinal stenosis.

Individuals affected by polio develop widespread inflammation in numerous body tissues like the muscles in the neck, back, and limbs. Inflammation is characterized by blood vessel dilation and an influx of immune components to the site where the virus has caused damage. This is typically the nerves near the muscles responsible for their activation. The inflammatory response causes surrounding tissues to swell and compresses nearby structures. This mechanism results in body stiffness.

Sore Throat

Patients with non-paralytic polio could develop a sore throat that lasts for approximately ten days. This may occur in conjunction with a headache and pain or stiffness in the neck, back, arms, and legs. The throat often feels scratchy and dry, and swallowing may be painful. To ease a sore throat, it may help to gargle with salt water and use lozenges containing anesthetic or menthol. Patients should monitor their symptoms, and they should see a doctor immediately if they believe their sore throat may be a symptom of polio. To distinguish between non-paralytic polio and other causes of a sore throat, doctors will test the patient's throat secretions to see if polio is present.