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- Poliomyelitis
- SYMPTOMS. Signs include headache, fever, pain in the neck and back, sore
- throat, vomiting, drowsiness and stiffness in the neck and back. The fever
- usually lasts about 7 days in NON-PARALYTIC POLIO and usually the stiffness
- is gone in 3 to 5 days. In 1 to 7 days after the first signs, weakness or
- paralysis of the legs or arms occur with PARALYTIC POLIO. BULBAR POLIO
- affects the breathing and swallowing muscles. This may occur in the first 3
- days of the illness.
- CAUSES. It is a contagious viral disease that affects the nervous system.
- It is spread from the throat and infected feces of the carrier. It enters
- the body via the nose and mouth. The communicability period is not known.
- TREATMENT. No specific treatment. Mild cases, bed rest for several days.
- .Severe cases may require medication, physical therapy and hot moist packs.
- .A mechanical respiratory may be required for breathing difficulties.
- .A vaccine for immunization is available.