Poliomyelitis in the child: its dangers, treatment and prevention

During the first year of their lives, each child should be vaccinated against the most terrible diseases, in particular tetanus, hepatitis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tuberculosis and polio. Actually, the latter will be discussed further.

Poliomyelitis in a child can occur through communication with patients with this ailment, when using unwashed vegetables, raw water, and also through feces (the so-called oral-fecal mode of transmission). The causative agent of the disease is a fairly resistant virus. It can be stored for more than three days at room temperature, successfully lives in milk and other food products. Overcome the virus can be high temperature, ultraviolet, disinfectants with a chlorine content. Poliomyelitis in a child begins when the pathogen enters the intestine, less often in the respiratory tract. Then it spreads blood throughout the body. Its greatest danger lies in the possibility of affecting the nervous system, causing paralysis (often unavoidable), contributing to the deformation of the limbs, and causing death.

Main symptoms

Many diseases are difficult to diagnose immediately because of their various manifestations. So is polio. Symptoms in children largely depend on the period of the disease. There are 4 of them:

1. Preparalytic. Its main manifestations are:

• General weakness;
• fatigue;
• Disorders of the digestive system (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) in case of a virus in the digestive tract;
• Cough if the respiratory tract is affected;
• headache;
• A symptom of Kernig.

2. Paralytic. Recognized by such signs as:

• Changes in body temperature;
• Pain in the bladder;
• Paralysis of the limbs ;
• Violation of the functions of individual muscle groups.

3. Restorative. Its main symptoms are:

• Restoration of muscle functions;
• Temperature normalization;
• Reduction of pain.

4. The period of residual phenomena. There is an improvement in the patient's condition, you can notice the main effects of the disease (partial or complete paralysis, deformity of the limbs, muscle atrophy , etc.).

Fighting the disease

If poliomyelitis in a child has been diagnosed, then it should be immediately delivered to a hospital. In the case of paralysis of the airways, the patient enters the intensive care unit, where ventilation is carried out. If the disease does not go so far, then polio is treated symptomatically. The patient should strictly observe the bed rest. The mattress and pillow should be orthopedic. If there is a deformation, then on the limb of the patient is applied a gypsum, a tire. It is possible to relieve the pain and alleviate the condition due to medical treatment. Doctors recommend the use of analgesics, antihistamines and sedatives, as well as B vitamins. You can get rid of the pain due to warm baths and good wrapping. The shown is therapeutic gymnastics, as well as massage, UHF therapy, air baths. In the hospital, the patient is treated for about 1-2 months. Next, he must restore health at the resorts.

Prevention of poliomyelitis

You can protect yourself from illness. So, the main method of protection against poliomyelitis is vaccination. It can be in the form of drops (live) or injection (inactivated). As a rule, the vaccine is transferred fairly easily and at the same time is a good protection, since it involves the development of immunity to three types of the virus. Prevention of poliomyelitis in children is possible due to:

• Observance of personal hygiene;
• Refusal of raw water;
• Careful washing of the products and, if possible, their heat treatment.