Poliomyelitis - Prognosis

Prognosis

A complete recovery is possible for minor polio while a paralytic attack maims a person for life.

Patients with minor polio and non-paralytic forms of polio recover completely. About two thirds of people with major polio have permanent weakness. In recent years, a new medical problem, known as post-polio syndrome, has been diagnosed. The condition is observed in people who had polio during their childhood. It affects about 25-50 % of the polio survivors.

Causes are not known but recent research has enabled a better insight into the condition. General fatigue, muscular weakness, joint pains and breathing problems are commonly seen in the affected people.

The precise reasons are not known but it is believes that the degeneration of nerve cells caused by the poliovirus is the causative factor. Age at initial infection, severity of the disease, time taken to recover and excessive hardwork are reported to be risk factors. Treatment of post-polio syndrome is by managing its syndromes.