Polio

What is Polio?

Polio, technically known as poliomyelitis, is an epidemic which the world is trying to erase from the face of the earth since it has crippled many lives in the past. And after successful research in 1950, the nations moved towards fighting this epidemic.

 

The way a person could be affected by the virus is only if the antibodies, necessary to fight the virus, are not present in the human system and therefore they attack the motor neurons, which causes paralysis.

 

Motor neurons are the neurons which are located in the Central Nervous System (CNS), where the muscle controls lie.

Antibodies are those proteins that are found in the blood and other bodily fluids, which are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses.

 

The poliovirus, once entering the body, will try to reach the motor neurons and result in affecting the nervous system of an individual. The antibodies against the poliovirus can be constructed by the life long immunity created by the oral polio vaccination.

 

The most commonly known form of paralysis among all individuals is the malfunctioning of the leg and the lower body.

 

Immunization

As per statistics from the UNICEF, the percentage of infants immunized for polio in Sri Lanka lies at 98%, which is a very good rate when taking the whole population.

 

The vaccine for the eradication of the virus is not very expensive therefore the eradication was commenced years ago and it is still advisable to get the vaccination if not taken before, since one vaccination is said to create a life long immunity towards the virus.

 

Does it have a cure? 

Polio is a disease with no cure. Therefore modern treatment techniques focus on providing relief of symptoms, speeding recovery and preventing further complications. Treatment of polio, once a person is infected, often requires long-term rehabilitation, including physical therapy and corrective shoes and other expensive forms.

 

Statistics

After the widespread attack by the virus, most nations worked towards eradicating it and were certified as polio-free

Till 2006 America, China, Australia and 36 other Western Pacific countries have been certified as Polio-free.

 

Still, though, Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain endemic.

 

What should we do? 

It is popularly known that PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE, therefore we could always work towards a better future by helping to prevent the spread of the disease, rather than trying very expensive methods of treatment for the disease.

 

It just takes two drops to save a child from polio.