Some diseases are rare but have far reaching effects than those which are commonly encountered. Polio virus infection is one such rare disease. It usually affects children under the age of fifteen years but rarely adults. All the same, the disease may recur in a new form in fifteen to thirty years after the initial infection. This is what is termed as post polio syndrome. Post-polio blog outline this phenomenon in more details.
Once a person survives initial disease attack, it takes a long duration of time for the new symptoms to present. These symptoms imitate those of the previous disease and may be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. The symptoms include loss of muscle mass, pain, body malaise and fatigue. Occasionally, other symptoms may appear depending on body parts affected.
The means by which this disease manifests its symptoms and signs are not well documented. All that is available regarding this are theories which are thought to be the truth. Such theories abound but one that is most acceptable is neural fatigue. It tries to clarify that initial polio infection leads to death of several nerve cells. Following these deaths, remaining nerve cells takes over the role of dead ones by increasing their terminals. This becomes unsustainable at some point leading to recurrence of polio like symptoms thereafter.
Diagnosis is a key feature in patient care. Wrong diagnosis means wrong treatment and consequently mismanagement. For this illness, no lab test is available to confirm diagnosis. The only available diagnostic measure is history. A clear history leading to diagnosis indicates previous infection with polio virus, long time lapse from initial time of infection and eventually gradual onset of muscle weakness.
Treatment options are curative. No known cure is currently available and the management options are intended to control symptoms and preserve body functions. One intervention involves rest. A person requires good rest from exercise that would otherwise lead to exhaustion. A second management option involves use of pain killers as a means of controlling distress.
A third measure is intended to control fatigue. This has been pointed out as the most distressing symptom among others. All the same, there are a number of options that can be used to effectively bring it under control. Such measures include use of lower limb support items as crutches, change of life style, reduction of body weight for obese persons and effective use of powered wheelchairs. In addition, use of fatigue drugs may be of help.
Prognosis is generally good and most patients recover completely from their illness. Actually, majority of victims fully recover to their previous state of health. However, a few persons experience devastating life changing events in which a permanent disability results. Others succumb to their illness and pass on. All the same, three quarters of victims survive and return to normal life.
There is hope for all persons affected by this disease. Despite the devastating symptoms and signs experience, proper care leads to gradual but full recovery of previous state of health. Individuals affected should therefore make effort to access health care as it preserves life and its quality.
Once a person survives initial disease attack, it takes a long duration of time for the new symptoms to present. These symptoms imitate those of the previous disease and may be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. The symptoms include loss of muscle mass, pain, body malaise and fatigue. Occasionally, other symptoms may appear depending on body parts affected.
The means by which this disease manifests its symptoms and signs are not well documented. All that is available regarding this are theories which are thought to be the truth. Such theories abound but one that is most acceptable is neural fatigue. It tries to clarify that initial polio infection leads to death of several nerve cells. Following these deaths, remaining nerve cells takes over the role of dead ones by increasing their terminals. This becomes unsustainable at some point leading to recurrence of polio like symptoms thereafter.
Diagnosis is a key feature in patient care. Wrong diagnosis means wrong treatment and consequently mismanagement. For this illness, no lab test is available to confirm diagnosis. The only available diagnostic measure is history. A clear history leading to diagnosis indicates previous infection with polio virus, long time lapse from initial time of infection and eventually gradual onset of muscle weakness.
Treatment options are curative. No known cure is currently available and the management options are intended to control symptoms and preserve body functions. One intervention involves rest. A person requires good rest from exercise that would otherwise lead to exhaustion. A second management option involves use of pain killers as a means of controlling distress.
A third measure is intended to control fatigue. This has been pointed out as the most distressing symptom among others. All the same, there are a number of options that can be used to effectively bring it under control. Such measures include use of lower limb support items as crutches, change of life style, reduction of body weight for obese persons and effective use of powered wheelchairs. In addition, use of fatigue drugs may be of help.
Prognosis is generally good and most patients recover completely from their illness. Actually, majority of victims fully recover to their previous state of health. However, a few persons experience devastating life changing events in which a permanent disability results. Others succumb to their illness and pass on. All the same, three quarters of victims survive and return to normal life.
There is hope for all persons affected by this disease. Despite the devastating symptoms and signs experience, proper care leads to gradual but full recovery of previous state of health. Individuals affected should therefore make effort to access health care as it preserves life and its quality.
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