Polio Symptoms

Polio: Introduction

Polio or poliomyelitis is an infectious viral disease that is contagious and can cause partial/full paralysis (paralytic polio) or in rare cases, death.

Only a very few people with an infection suffer from paralytic polio (about one percent). Children who are five years of age or under are more susceptible to a polio infection.

What are the Polio Symptoms?

The incubation period ranges roughly between five to thirty five days before signs develop. Depending on the polio cause, one may suffer from mild, severe, or no polio signs and symptoms at all.

About five to ten percent of those infected with polio virus experience symptoms (or any severe effects) and are on a large part unaware about being infected. Most symptoms are mild, including;

• Sore Throat
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Mild Fever

You recover from these symptoms quickly, usually between one to three days. Following the initial illness, severe signs of polio may appear that can linger from seven to fourteen days.

• Muscle Pain
• Severe Headache
• Stiff back and neck
• Fever
• Meningitis

In the final phase, polio symptoms are severe and may include complications;

• Deep nasal voice
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle paralysis
• Difficulty swallowing food or liquid
• Difficulty in breathing
• Respiratory paralysis

You can suffer paralysis in muscles of your arms and legs. You can also get spinal paralysis. Polio shots are the best prevention method for polio. Immunization is a positive and healthy step that offers a good chance for preventing polio.

Some people suffer from abortive polio. They experience mild symptoms of polio following an infection. But they do not suffer from paralysis of any type. The symptoms are similar to those occurring during a flu infection or viral attacks such as fever, headache or fatigue.