What Are The Symptoms Of Polio?

Paralysis

Paralysis is associated with the paralytic form of polio. This form of the condition is the most serious type, and vaccinations have made it very rare in the developed world. Paralytic polio usually begins with a fever, headache, and other symptoms characteristic of non-paralytic polio. Within roughly seven days, patients with this form of the condition will start to show other symptoms. They may have severe muscle aches or muscle weakness, and a loss of reflexes could occur.

The limbs on one or both sides of the body might become loose and floppy; this is known as flaccid paralysis. Limb deformities might develop, and these may be especially noticeable in the feet, ankles, and hips. Severe muscle spasms may be present, and the patient might suddenly become paralyzed. The paralysis is often temporary, and permanent paralysis only develops in less than one percent of all cases of polio. In five to ten percent of the polio cases that result in paralysis, the poliovirus attacks the muscles used for breathing, which can be fatal.

Paresthesia

Paresthesia refers to a sensation of pins and needles, and it most frequently occurs in the hands, arms, legs, and feet. Paresthesia has been reported in cases of post-polio syndrome, a condition that may develop fifteen to forty years after a patient recovers from polio. Paresthesia may produce a burning or tingling sensation, and some patients notice numbness, weakness, or a cold feeling in the affected area. The condition can be temporary or chronic. Temporary paresthesia is often due to pressure placed on a nerve, and the chronic form of the condition generally develops due to nerve damage. Patients with chronic paresthesia may experience clumsiness or reduced coordination in the affected limb, and the condition can sometimes cause stabbing pain in the area too.

To diagnose paresthesia and determine the underlying cause, doctors take the patient's complete health history and perform a physical examination that includes a complete neurological exam. The patient's reflexes, sensation, muscle strength, and coordination will be checked. Blood tests and a lumbar puncture may be recommended to rule out certain causes, and patients might need to see several specialists. Imaging studies such as MRI and CT scans could be necessary to detect issues with the spine or neck. Treatment for paresthesia depends on the underlying cause. If the condition is the result of irreversible nerve damage, the patient will be provided with physical therapy and support to help them learn new ways of completing particular tasks with less pain. Prescription pain relievers may help reduce the disruption this condition may have on the patient's daily activities.