What are the differential diagnoses for polio?

Many patients with polio first think of the differential diagnosis of polio. Poliomyelitis is an acute infectious disease caused by the polio virus that can seriously endanger health. Patients are generally children aged 1 to 6. The main symptoms of this disease are fever, and in severe cases, limb pain and slow paralysis may occur.

There is an epidemiological history and contact history of polio. At the beginning, there are respiratory and mild digestive tract diagnostic symptoms such as fever, sweating, cough, runny nose, irritability, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. The symptoms subside after 1 to 4 days, but the fever recurs after a few days. The whole body then feels unwell, has drug allergies, muscle pain, does not want to be held or has drowsiness, and then gradually develops limb paralysis. The paralysis is flaccid and asymmetrically distributed in the lower limbs more than the upper limbs. Fortunately, other muscle groups may also be affected. If they are not seen for a long time, they will not recover. In addition to muscle atrophy on the affected side, the exoskeleton may also be deformed.

Poliomyelitis is similar to colds and flu at its initial onset, so it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Communication and consultation should be conducted, and detailed inquiries should be made about the epidemiological history, vaccination history, and season of onset. If symptoms include double peaks of heat, sweating, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat, this disease should be suspected. This disease should also be distinguished from arthralgia, which often occurs in winter and spring. Although there are fever, joint swelling and pain, and movement disorders, there is no paralysis.

Through the above understanding of the differential diagnosis of polio, a warm reminder: if you find that your child has the above pathological reactions, you must go to the hospital for examination and diagnosis. Do not ignore these conditions and miss the best time to treat polio.