Poliomyelitis (polio)

Introduction

Poliomyelitis, or polio, is a condition caused by the poliovirus. It can damage the nerves in the spinal cord and brain stem and can cause severe illness and permanent disability.

The poliovirus spreads through the poo and saliva of a person who is unwell with the virus. Children can come into contact with infected poo and saliva when they:

• eat contaminated food
• drink contaminated fluids
• put contaminated hands or objects in their mouth and nose
• has contact with infected fluid droplets from a person coughing or sneezing.

Polio is very rare in Australia thanks to immunisation programmes and clean drinking water.

Polio still exists in a few countries, so children are still at risk if they have not been vaccinated against polio and: 

• are under five years old
• have a weakened immune system from illness or treatments like chemotherapy
• are travelling to and from an at-risk country
• are a newly arrived migrant from an at-risk country
• have contact with a person who may be infected.

Most people infected with poliovirus will have no symptoms and may not even know they are unwell. Children who do have symptoms may find they develop between 3 – 21 days after they are infected with the virus.

People who have poliovirus can spread the virus for up to six weeks through their poo. The virus can also remain in the throat and spread through fluid droplets and saliva for up to two weeks.

Mild symptoms of poliovirus can last up to ten days and include:

• fever
• tiredness
• headaches
• nausea and vomiting
• stiffness in the back, neck, arms, and legs
• muscle weakness.

Polio can spread to the nervous system, including the brain stem and spinal cord. When this happens, symptoms are severe and can include:

• inflammation and swelling of the brain or spinal cord
• meningitis – infection, inflammation and swelling of the fluid and tissue around the brain and spinal cord
• paralysis – losing the ability to move different parts of the body.

Paralysis in polio happens quickly. Along with difficulty moving, it can cause:

• stiffness in the neck and back
• issues with swallowing
• issues with breathing
• weakness in the arms and legs
• issues with balance and coordination. 

Your child’s doctor will diagnose polio by:

• doing a physical check of your child’s symptoms
• checking your child’s vaccination and travel history
• testing samples of:
  • blood
  • poo
  • fluid from the nose and throat
  • cerebrospinal fluid - fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

There is no cure for polio. Treatment of polio aims to: 

• help your child recover from severe symptoms
• manage ongoing effects of the disease
• prevent further complications.

Treatment options will depend on your child’s symptoms and can include:

• antibiotics to treat any other infections
• medication for pain relief
• portable ventilators to help with breathing
• medication to manage muscle spasms
• physiotherapy to recover from paralysis and build strength.