We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Common Symptoms of Polio?

By Erin J. Hill
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,072
Share

There are both minor and serious symptoms of polio which can include fever, abdominal pain, constipation, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea, flu-like symptoms, paralysis, and meningitis. Very rarely polio may lead to full paralysis and sometimes even death. Up to 95% of all individuals who become infected with polio will never exhibit symptoms, but these people can still spread the virus.

Polio is a virus which infects the back of the throat, nasal passages, and intestines. When one becomes infected there is generally an incubation period during which symptoms are not shown and the virus continues to grow and colonize. This generally lasts anywhere from four to 35 days, with the average incubation period being about a week. If symptoms of polio do arise, most patients exhibit only mild ones and recover fully.

Occasionally, severe symptoms of polio like meningitis and paralysis can lead to death or permanent disability. These are now rare but they once occurred more frequently due to epidemic polio outbreaks in the United States and Europe. Thousands of people suffered from severe and long-term paralysis and many others died before the widespread of the polio vaccine in 1957. Although they are not very common, they are the most well known symptoms of polio because of their debilitating effects.

There are many adults living who still suffer from decreased mobility due to polio. In most industrialized nations polio symptoms are no longer a threat to human society, although outbreaks still occur in countries where vaccines are not widely used. In some rare occasions, polio symptoms are seen in children who have recently be given the live virus version of the vaccine. Even more rarely, children may contract a full-blown polio infection from the vaccine.

These instances are very rare, but as a precaution, caregivers are advised to keep recently vaccinated children away from vulnerable individuals. This can include those who are not vaccinated, such as young infants. Anyone who begins exhibiting symptoms of polio shortly after being vaccinated should be seen by a health care professional as a precaution. Symptoms generally subside within a few days.

There is no cure for polio. A series of vaccines is given in early childhood in most nations to prevent the disease, and this has led to a 99% drop in polio infections. There are still a few nations in which polio is still endemic, so parents and children should be aware of polio symptoms, although contracting the disease is highly unlikely in fully vaccinated individuals.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-common-symptoms-of-polio.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.