What happens to your legs when you have polio?

Symptoms vary from mild flu-like symptoms to life-threatening paralysis. In less than 1\% of cases, polio causes permanent paralysis of the arms, legs or breathing muscles. Between 5\% and 10\% of people who develop paralytic polio will die. Physical symptoms may emerge 15 years or more after the first polio infection.

Is polio paralysis permanent?

Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with polio, because it can lead to permanent disability and death. Between 2 and 10 out of 100 people who have paralysis from poliovirus infection die, because the virus affects the muscles that help them breathe.

Can you recover from post-polio syndrome?

There’s currently no cure for post-polio syndrome, so treatment focuses on helping you manage your symptoms and improving your quality of life. People with the condition are often treated by a team of different healthcare professionals working together. This is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Can polio return in later life?

Post-polio syndrome refers to a cluster of potentially disabling signs and symptoms that appear decades — an average of 30 to 40 years — after the initial polio illness. Polio once resulted in paralysis and death. However, the inactivated polio vaccine greatly reduced polio’s spread.

Is polio can be cured?

Because no cure for polio exists, the focus is on increasing comfort, speeding recovery and preventing complications. Supportive treatments include: Pain relievers. Portable ventilators to assist breathing.

Does exercise help post-polio syndrome?

If you have Post Polio Syndrome (PPS), it’s vital to exercise moderately every second day to keep the muscles we have and avoid obesity, diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Exercise also helps us accomplish more of those activities of daily living and can improve how we feel.

Which body part is affected by polio?

Polio is a viral disease which may affect the spinal cord causing muscle weakness and paralysis. The polio virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Polio is more common in infants and young children and occurs under conditions of poor hygiene.

Can polio recur later in life?

Post-polio syndrome refers to a cluster of potentially disabling signs and symptoms that appear decades — an average of 30 to 40 years — after the initial polio illness. Polio once resulted in paralysis and death.

Can polio legs be cured?

There’s no one treatment for the various signs and symptoms of post-polio syndrome. The goal of treatment is to manage your symptoms and help make you as comfortable and independent as possible: Energy conservation. This involves pacing your physical activity and resting frequently to reduce fatigue.

Are there any polio survivors?

The World Health Organization estimates that 10 to 20 million polio survivors are alive worldwide, and some estimates suggest that 4 to 8 million of them may get PPS.