The birth of a child is certainly a moment of great joy for parents. A new life is beginning and a new phase for everyone is about to start. But this moment is also marked by a great concern about how to care for the baby, especially when it comes to health. First-time mothers may easily panic over any change in their child’s health, which is quite understandable since a variety of diseases can affect babies severely, such as poliomyelitis. One of the greatest allies for babies’ health is without doubt the vaccine, which has been eradicating diseases and preventing others from advancing for a long time. And one of the diseases that can be prevented with a vaccine is poliomyelitis. Discover here what its main causes are, its symptoms, treatments, and the consequences the disease can leave behind.

What is Poliomyelitis?

Poliomyelitis is an infectious and contagious disease caused by a virus called Poliovirus. This virus affects the nerves of the infected person and can cause paralysis. Although it is called infantile paralysis, since the virus much more easily affects children under 4 years old, it can also affect adults. Although it is well known for causing infantile paralysis, there is a type of non-paralytic poliomyelitis, which can affect a person without leaving these major aftereffects. The virus is transmitted from person to person through the mouth or by contact with feces. For this reason, the disease was a major problem in places where basic sanitation was poor, as many people came into contact with water and food containing fecal bacteria carrying Poliovirus. Poliomyelitis has been eradicated in many countries where the vaccine against the disease is mandatory, including Brazil, which had its last recorded case in 1989. Even so, the disease is still a reality in some countries in Africa and Asia.

Causes of Poliomyelitis

The disease is mainly caused by contact with another infected person through mucus, saliva droplets, phlegm, or contaminated food and water. For this reason, raising awareness about hygiene has always been an important weapon in the fight against poliomyelitis. The virus usually enters through the mouth or nose, spreads through the digestive system and then through the bloodstream, and can even reach the brain of the infected person. When Poliovirus manages to reach the nervous system, it can destroy neurons and cause the person’s lower limbs to lose all movement. In even more severe cases, the virus can also lead to death.

Symptoms of Poliomyelitis

There are several symptoms common to both paralytic and non-paralytic poliomyelitis. The main difference is that in the case of paralytic polio, the person usually presents loss of reflexes and intense muscle pain, signs that paralysis is occurring. Other symptoms include:

  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Sore Throat
  • Meningitis

Of course, a diagnosis must be made by a doctor before being certain that the person is infected with Poliovirus.

Treatment of Poliomyelitis

There is no specific treatment for poliomyelitis, as it is a viral infection. However, it is necessary to take several precautions so that the chances of complications from the disease decrease and the body’s natural recovery is accelerated. The main precautions are:

  • Use of painkillers
  • Ventilators to assist breathing
  • Complete rest to decrease the chance of paralysis
  • Nutritional Diet
  • Medical supervision

With these precautions in place, the disease can be cured more quickly and the chances of paralysis affecting the child drop considerably. However, the ideal is that preventive measures keep treatment from ever being needed.

Prevention of Poliomyelitis

Prevention of the disease is mainly achieved through vaccination, which, when properly administered, prevents the virus from entering the person’s body and causing all its effects. There are two vaccines that can be taken against poliomyelitis, but there is also another very important factor in preventing the spread of the virus: Awareness. Prevention, therefore, consists of:

  • VPO-Sabin Vaccine
  • Salk Vaccine
  • Hygiene Awareness

VPO-Sabin Vaccine

This is the vaccine included in the basic vaccination schedule, the famous oral drop vaccine. It should be given in several doses: first at 2 months of age, then at 2, 4, 6, and 15 months. Until the age of 5, children should receive booster doses every year.

Salk Vaccine

Salk is a different type of vaccine, given intramuscularly and indicated for people with low immunity or for people who will travel to countries where the Poliovirus is still active.

Hygiene Awareness

Besides vaccines, which are extremely effective in preventing Poliovirus from infecting people, a second type of prevention is also very necessary, which is exactly raising public awareness of the importance of hygiene. Of course, this is work that requires both the government and the population to join forces, so that people understand how the virus spreads and grasp the importance of certain habits such as not walking barefoot in areas with open sewage and always washing hands before meals and after using the toilet. Although it is not an easy task, this type of awareness was also a very important factor in eliminating poliomyelitis, especially in countries like Brazil, where there is a high population living in poverty. Although it has been eradicated in various parts of the world, we must always remember that poliomyelitis still exists and that the vaccine against this disease is one of the most important things we must do when caring for our children’s health. Without regular doses of the vaccine, children may become more vulnerable and susceptible to the virus. See also: Find Out When Your Baby Can Go Out for a Walk Photo: Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte