Understanding Polio: Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention for Parents

There were times when Polio was a common health condition that infected thousands of children in India every year. It was highly contagious due to poor sanitization standards and congested living, where people used to share washrooms, which served as a source of virus spread. The virus majorly infected kids under five years of age.

Thanks to the Indian government’s rigorous polio-free initiative that involved mass immunization. Even though it took several years, the constant efforts did prove to be beneficial, and since 2011, India has been declared a polio-free nation.

The same was reiterated by WHO in January 2014. Since then, the government has been devoted to assuring that every tot is immunized at a suitable age to evade the risk of Polio.

Some Critical Facts About Polio Infections

Before we confer polio risk factors, symptoms, and prevention techniques, let us review the definition and a few critical facts that will help mums determine the right approach to protecting their little angels from this agonizing health condition.

Poliomyelitis is a viral ailment that strikes brain and spinal cord nerves, leading to paralysis and bedridden patients. In several cases, patient death was also reported, and hence, it became a concern for 125 countries.

In 1988, the World Health Assembly embraced a resolution to adopt all possible and practical strategies to restrict the spread of infection. This is when global organizations joined hands and worked towards one goal: polio eradication.

Czechoslovakia was the first polio-free nation, and in 2014, India joined the league with the WHO polio-free certification. Since 2011, no polio cases have been reported in India, so the drive has been declared successful, and the government is still dedicated to continuing the immunization drive with oral polio vaccines.

Signs and Symptoms of Polio in Children

Doting mommies who wish to know every detail about this condition should be aware of the polio symptoms in children. These can be classified as common and severe, which can have lifelong effects that may even be fatal.

The common symptoms are given below:

• Consistent fever
• Vomiting
• Sore throat
• Stiffness in neck and back
• Headache
• Fatigue and limb pain

The child may show all or a few of the above symptoms for up to 10 days. Hence, it becomes essential that parents connect with the child’s paediatrician for the correct diagnosis in case they suspect signs of polio infection in young children.

Some severe symptoms that a child may experience when the condition worsens are:

• Partial paralysis of the lower body due to impact on the spinal cord and brain nerves.
• Permanent disability
• In worse cases, Polio can also be fatal. The mortality rate is 5-10% when the infection causes immobilization of breathing muscles.
• Some asymptomatic polio cases have also been reported where the individual does not exhibit any of the symptoms above but still is a carrier of the virus.

Polio Causes and Transmission in Children

Polio is infectious, and hence, it becomes critical to apprehend its causes and transmission. The virus transmits from one individual to another when it penetrates the environment via infected faeces, and munchkins are exposed to it due to unhygienic conditions.

A child may also become infected when he consumes virus-contaminated water and food. If an individual becomes infected, people living with him are likely to become infected. This may spread the infection for up to six weeks, even if they are asymptomatic.

Hence, it becomes difficult to identify such asymptomatic cases. This leads to a high possibility of transmitting the infection to other family members or people in contact.

The infection can be diagnosed only after examining the faeces for the presence of a virus or testing the patient’s blood for antibody detection that develops to fight against the virus.

Polio Risk Factors to Know

Health experts have established that children below five years of age are prone to polio infection, and individuals who have not administered the polio vaccine are at a greater risk of getting infected. Some other factors that may expose an individual to the infection are:

• Incomplete polio vaccination
• Weak immune system that makes a person susceptible to infection compared to healthy individuals.
• Travelling to places with recent polio outbreaks.
• Poor sanitization and hygiene
• If a pregnant woman is exposed to the virus, the fetus may be at potential threat.
• Family members of an infected individual are vulnerable to the infection.
• Individuals suffering from HIV infection have weak immunity that makes them prone to Polio in case of exposure to the virus.
• Individuals or children with tonsillectomy (tonsil removal) have higher chances of getting polio infection.
• Individuals who experience extreme stress or are involved in physical activity are more likely to get polio infection upon exposure to the virus.

Effective Polio Prevention Methods for Children

There is no cure, so polio prevention in children is the best approach that every mother should focus on, apart from following the immunization schedule as recommended by the government. Vaccination is indeed the best protection as it works lifelong and keeps the little ones safe forever.

India's polio eradication progress is commendable, but it has definitely been a long and challenging journey. For decades, government authorities have put in efforts to apprise parents about this health condition, its intricacies, and preventive measures so that everyone contributes to its success.

The strategic Pulse Polio Immunization Programme that the government launched in 1995 has spread across the country, covering a maximum number of villages and cities, irrespective of the distance from the centre.

The credit goes to the dedicated, well-trained teams that visit doorsteps and carry OPV vaccines. The expert who inoculates your little one also maintains data, which guarantees a robust surveillance system, a crucial part of the campaign.

Polio Vaccine Drives in India

The Indian government acquired consistent support from global organizations like WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Rotary International, etc. to mobilize resources, design vaccination schedules, and provide technical expertise to confirm the best output.

Every tiny tot under 5 years of age ought to be administered with the polio vaccine twice during the year. A total of 5 OPV doses are mandatory for every child, with the first dose given at birth. Thereafter, three primary vaccine doses are given at six, ten, and fourteen weeks of age, while one booster is administered between 16 and 24 months.

With Mission Indradhanush, the government strives to persist in the polio vaccine drive and maximize scope by extending it to secluded areas. This confirms effective polio prevention methods for kids and facilitates awareness for better understanding.

Some other preventive steps that parents can take to keep their children safe:

• Clean water and food consumption: Every mum should be cautious when feeding kiddos clean, healthy food and water. This keeps the virus at bay and facilitates strong immunity, allowing the growing to stay healthy without any apprehensions.
• Good hygiene: A family with a tiny kiddo should take additional precautions, like regular hand washing before coming in contact with him or keeping the living space spic and span.
• Proper sanitization: The right method involves routine cleaning of washrooms and inducing good hygiene habits since childhood. 

Conclusion: The Roadmap Ahead

Now that we have emphasized all critical pointers about the polio virus, we hope every parent is acquainted with the facts and strategies to keep the virus at bay.

But if still how to protect my child from Polio is the question on your mind, we urge you to connect with a healthcare professional and confer your concerns for a better understanding.

Also, it is critical to adhere to the immunization schedule to protect the child from Polio, as that is the only guarantee of safeguarding the child for a lifetime.

Being aware and following hygiene practices without fail is the only pathway to successful prevention of Polio in kids and letting them grow into healthy and happy individuals.