Polio history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

Overview

Most cases of poliomyelitis are asymptomatic. The symptomatic cases may occur as 3 different clinical syndromes. 4 to 8% of the symptomatic cases present as abortive poliomyelitis, a mild form of the disease that may include symptoms similar to those of gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection and flu-like disease. Two percent of the symptomatic cases present as non-paralytic poliomyelitis, with symptoms that may include fever, headache, neck, back, abdominal, limb pain, sensory abnormalities, muscle spasms, and irritability. In less than 1% of symptomatic cases, the disease presents as paralytic poliomyelitis, with symptoms of non-paralytic poliomyelitis, as well as muscle weakness, asymmetrical paralysis, muscle atrophy, tremors, and skeletal deformities.

History and Symptoms

About 95% of patients with a healthy immune system do not develop symptoms of poliomyelitis.^[1]
Approximately 4 to 8% of infections with poliovirus result in minor, nonspecific disease, without clinical or laboratory evidence of CNS involvement. This form of the disease is called abortive poliomyelitis.^[1]
In about 1 to 2% of poliovirus infections, the disease manifests as non-paralytic poliomyelitis. Symptoms usually appear several days after an initial prodrome that is similar to that of abortive poliomyelitis.^[1]
Less than 1% of patients infected with poliovirus develop paralytic poliomyelitis. In this form of the disease, symptoms usually appear 1 to 10 days after the initial prodromal symptoms, progressing over 2 to 3 days.^[1]

Common symptoms of abortive poliomyelitis may mimic those of gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection, and influenza-like disease, such as:^[2]

Common symptoms of non-paralytic poliomyelitis may include:^[2]

Common symptoms of paralytic poliomyelitis may include those of non-paralytic poliomyelitis. Additional symptoms may include:^[3]^[2]^[4]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 “Poliomyelitis”.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Falconer M, Bollenbach E (2000). “Late functional loss in nonparalytic polio”. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists. 79 (1): 19–23. PMID 10678598.
↑ Wood, Lawrence D. H.; Hall, Jesse B.; Schmidt, Gregory D. (2005). Principles of Critical Care, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 870. ISBN 0-07-141640-4.
↑ Alcalá H (1993). “[The differential diagnosis of poliomyelitis and other acute flaccid paralyses]”. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex. 50 (2): 136–44. PMID 8442872.
↑ Mandell, Gerald (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s principles and practice of infectious diseases. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 0443068399.

Overview