At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, poliomyelitis (also known as polio) would kill or paralyze 500,000 people every year. For over a thousand years this great virus survived as an endemic pathogen, requiring little attention and impacting society as a whole very slightly. In the 1880s, this tenuous endemic would morph into a European epidemic until it eventually spanned the globe. Encouragingly, this highly infectious viral disease that implicates the central nervous system has been battled, and in 2013 Global health authorities revealed a plan to completely wipe out polio by 2018. On March 27, 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the world is now 80% polio-free, after India officially went three years without a single new case of polio. However, this disease has reemerged, vaccine resistant and unusually lethal.
With international conflict creating adverse environments for health workers, and leaving many unvaccinated, a previously unknown mutation of the virus is beginning to spread and justifies readers to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of the polio virus. Back in February of 2014, CNN reported on about 20 cases of a polio-like syndrome in California. These cases were reported on in the annual American Academy of Neurology conference and awareness has been raised worldwide. As rare as it may sound, one can never be too cautious with their health.
The symptoms of polio include:
Another polio related issue affecting society today is post-polio syndrome, a condition that affects polio survivors years after they’ve recovered from the poliomyelitis virus. Weakness, pain and fatigue is noticed in patients as they can no longer perform usually effortless daily tasks. Diagnosis of post-polio disorder is especially challenging since the symptoms are hard to differentiate from the original polio infection and overall aging. A neurological examination and imaging is used as well as spinal fluid analysis and strength tests.
Too often the power of neuro imaging is overlooked in attempts to properly diagnose and treat ailments. At the center of all thought, behavior and consciousness is the brain. The science of neurology is bursting with support and resources to help individuals quickly and accurately understand their symptoms and effectively treat the cause. A skilled neurologist is an irreplaceable asset for your overall and neuro health. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, as well as other troubling issues you feel may be related neurologically, we encourage you to speak with an experienced neurologist. Dr. Christopher Duma has years of experience in the one of the nations best facilities.
