Abnormal Development - Polio Virus
Introduction
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, affecting only humans of any age, but mainly children under the age of 3 (> 50% cases). There are three types (type 1, type 2, and type 3) of wild poliovirus which can invade the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in several hours. In areas with either poor hygiene or sanitation, infants are infected early in life, acquiring active immunity while still protected by maternal antibodies. Other infants who miss early contact with the virus become susceptible to infection as maternal antibodies fall.
Some Recent Findings
Polio Infection
This enterovirus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs.
Irreversible paralysis (mainly legs) occurs in 1 in 200 infections. Amongst those paralysed, 5%-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Although polio paralysis is the most visible sign of polio infection, fewer than 1% of polio infections ever result in paralysis. Poliovirus can spread widely before cases of paralysis are seen. As most people infected with poliovirus have no signs of illness, they are never aware they have been infected. After initial infection with poliovirus, the virus is shed intermittently in faeces (excrement) for several weeks. During that time, polio can spread rapidly through the community.
(text modified from - Polio Eradication Organization)
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 16) Embryology Abnormal Development - Polio Virus. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Abnormal_Development_-_Polio_Virus
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G