Polio Disease and Vaccination (IPV)

Poliomyelitis, a disease caused by the poliovirus, is commonly known as polio. It mainly affects children and depending on its severity, can lead to paralysis and death. Apart from this, survivors are also affected with post-polio syndrome. They experience muscle pain, weakness, and paralysis about 15 to 40 years after the infection.

Poliovirus is highly contagious and hence, can spread easily from person to person. It spreads in the following ways:

• If you come in contact with the faeces (poop) of an infected person
• The Droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person

An infected person can even spread the virus to others before or up to 2 weeks after the symptoms appear. Asymptomatic people can also pass on the poliovirus.

Not everyone infected with the poliovirus will show the symptoms. However, about 1 in every four infected people will show symptoms similar to the ones seen in someone down with the flu.

These include:

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Stomach pain
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Headache

These are milder symptoms and will usually not last more than 2 to 5 days. Depending on the severity of the infection, some may experience severe symptoms that affect the spine and the brain, such as:

• Paraesthesia, which is the feeling of pins-and-needles or numbness in the limbs, especially legs
• Meningitis, which is the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes
• Paralysis is one of the most severe symptoms that can lead to permanent disability and death, which makes it the most severe symptom associated with polio.

The first dose of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is given to a child at birth.

Following birth dose of OPV, Injectable Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV)-containing vaccines are important and routinely recommended for a child from 6 weeks onwards. These IPV-containing vaccines are available as a standalone or in combination. In addition, all parents are advised to ensure that their children receive OPV during the national and subnational pulse polio days.

However, consult your doctor for more information.

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own.

Some people who get IPV get a sore spot where the shot was given and injection site pain. IPV has not been known to cause serious problems, and most people do not have any problems with it.