Polio
Polio is a virus that can affect your nerves. It can cause permanent muscle weakness, usually in the legs. If polio affects the chest muscles or the brain, it can lead to very serious health problems.
You can catch polio if you come into contact with the poo of someone who is infected, or by breathing in droplets from their coughs or sneezes. In 1988, polio paralysed more than 1000 children worldwide every day.
Before the polio vaccine was introduced, there were as many as 8,000 cases of polio in the UK. Thanks to the polio vaccination’s ongoing success, the UK hasn’t seen a natural polio infection in over 40 years. The last case was reported in 1984. This is why it is important to vaccinate to stop diseases such as polio from coming back.
Symptoms of polio
Most people will have no symptoms.
Some people get mild, flu-like symptoms, such as:
- a high temperature
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- headaches
- being sick (vomiting)
- a stiff neck, and
- muscle pain.
Rarely, polio can lead to more serious symptoms that affect the brain and nerves, such as weakness in your muscles (paralysis), usually in the legs. This can happen over hours or days.
If the paralysis affects the muscles used for breathing, it can be life threatening.
Most people will recover and movement will slowly come back over the next few weeks. Some people can be left with a permanent disability.
Learn more
If you would like to learn more about the vaccine, or the disease they protect against, a number of information resources are available to help.
You can also call NHS 111 or your GP practice for advice if you have any questions or visit the NHS 111 Wales website to learn more about polio.
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