Poliomyelitis (Polio)By:

Harsh MoolaniKristina Canary

Viruses A virus is an infectious ,

protein coated fragment of DNA or RNA (Bobick et. al., 2004).

Viruses replicate by invading host cells and they take over the cell’s “machinery” for DNA replication (Bobick et. Al., 2004).

Viruses include small pox, pertussis, yellow fever, chicken pox, HIV, measles, and polio.

Transmission

Polio can be transferred in multiple ways and some include:

› Direct person-to-person contact (NCBI, 2012)

› Contact with mucus or saliva from the nose or mouth (NCBI, 2012)

› Contact with infected feces (NCBI, 2012)

Symptoms

General discomfort Headache Red throat Slight fever Sore Throat Vomiting (PubMed,

2013) Paralysis

Prevalence

Prevalence with polio has fallen over 99% since 1988 (PubMed, 2013)

Only 3 world countries are polio endemic worldwide (Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria

Prevention

The polio vaccine which has prevented over 90% of the polio virus (PubMed, 2013)

Don’t associate with a polio carrier

Don’t have contact with feces, or the mucus of the infected individual

Treatment

Antibiotics for urinary tract infections Moist heat to reduce muscle pains and

spasms (PubMed, 2013) Painkillers to reduce headache, pain,

and spasms Physical therapy, braces, corrective

shoes, or orthopedic surgery to help recover muscle strength and function

Social Impact

Over the past two decades, tremendous progress has been made toward the eradication of polio. (Bill Gates Foundation, 2012)

The polio virus was endemic in 125 countries and about 350,000 people, primarily young children, were annually paralyzed.

Economic Impact

Once polio is eradicated, the world can celebrate public good that will benefit all people everywhere in the world

Eradicating polio in the next five years would save at least $40–50 billion (WHO, 2012)

Sources

BillGatesFoundation. (2012). Polio. [accessed 11 March 2013]. Retrieved from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Polio

Worldhealthorganization. (2012). Poliomyelitis. [accessed 11 March 2013]. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/

PubMed Health. (2013). Poliomyelitis. [accessed 11 March 2013]. Retrieved from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH/0002375/

Bobick, J., Balban, N., Bobick, S., & Roberts, L. B. (2004). The Handy Biology Answer Book. Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press.