| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/04/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 91 |
| Copyright: Other |
What is polio?
Polio (or more correctly poliomyelitis) is caused by a virus that firstly invades the stomach and intestines and then moves into the nervous system.
How do I catch it?
The most common route of infection in industrialised countries is kissing contact through mouth and nasal secretions. However human faeces also carries the virus and areas with poor sanitation and crowded living conditions are ideal for its transmission.
What are the symptoms of polio?
The symptoms of the infection range from none at all to fever, meningitis and paralysis. Typically there will be headaches, stomach upsets and stiffness in the back and neck. These symptoms will usually appear between three and 21 days after infection and last for a week to 10 days. The virus itself however may still be active and passed on in faeces for six weeks or more. Once ingested the virus moves into the nervous system and permanent nerve damage resulting in paralysis can occur.
What part of the world is affected?
Poliomyelitis can occur throughout the world, however thorough vaccination programmes in childhood have meant it has been eliminated in many countries such as the UK and throughout the whole of the American continent. The main areas of concern are Africa, Asia and anywhere that may offer poor sanitary facilities.
What vaccination do I need?
Hopefully you should already be covered, although people over the age of 50 may have missed the UK immunisation programme. You should havea booster should if it is 10 years or more since your last vaccination. This was probably done in the last year of secondary school.
Do I need more than one injection and does it hurt?
The good news is that the vaccine is taken by mouth, so you won’t need any injections. Rarely a full course of three doses will be needed at four-week intervals. Most people however will simply require a single booster. Apart from a bitter after taste there should be no real reaction to the vaccine. There is a minute risk (approximately one in two million) of contracting the disease itself from the vaccine. This should not however dissuade people from becoming vaccinated.
What else should I know?
It should be noted that after taking the polio vaccine your own faeces will become infected for about six weeks or so afterwards. This means that great care should be taken with your personal hygiene to avoid passing on the disease to someone that is not immunised.
General advice
If you become unwell you should seek immediate medical advice. Remember you may not feel unwell until after you have returned home. If this is so, you should always tell your GP that you have been abroad. If you are treated while abroad then consult your own GP on your return to the UK. If you are a blood donor, you should inform your transfusion unit if you have been recently vaccinated or travelled to a potentially infected country. Always seek advice and help from your GP or travel clinic well before you intend to travel.