What are the symptoms of polio?

Polio is a disease that is very harmful to children nowadays. This disease is not a modern disease. Polio has existed for a long time, so parents should learn these symptoms carefully and take good care of their babies in life. So what are the symptoms of polio? Let us introduce this knowledge below.

The incubation period of this disease is 5 to 14 days, and it can manifest clinically in various types: ① latent infection; ② abortive type; ③ non-paralysis type; ④ paralysis type.

(I) The main symptoms of the prodromal stage are fever, loss of appetite, sweating, irritability and systemic hyperesthesia; poliomyelitis nausea and vomiting, headache, sore throat, constipation, diffuse abdominal pain, rhinitis, cough, pharyngeal exudate, diarrhea, etc. can also be seen, which lasts for 1 to 4 days. If the disease does not progress, it is a setback type.

(ii) 1 to 6 days after the prodromal symptoms of the early stage of paralysis disappear, the body temperature rises again, headache, nausea, and vomiting are severe, the skin becomes red, there is a temporary bladder sphincter disorder, stiffness and burning pain in the posterior cervical muscles, trunk and limbs, and constipation is often present.

Physical examination can reveal:

① Tripod sign: when the patient sits up, he needs to use his hands to support himself on the bed like a tripod to support his body position;

② The kiss-knee test is positive, that is, the patient's lips cannot touch the knees when sitting up and bending the neck;

③ The head drop sign appears, that is, place your hands under the patient's shoulders and lift his trunk. In a normal case, the head and trunk are parallel.

If the disease stops here and the fever subsides after 3 to 5 days, it is a non-paralysis type. If the disease continues to progress, changes in tendon reflexes often appear 12 to 24 hours before paralysis. Initially, they are superficial reflexes, followed by deep tendon reflex inhibition. Therefore, early detection of reflex changes has important clinical diagnostic value.

(III) The paralysis stage begins on the 3rd or 4th day of the pre-paralysis period. Paralysis usually occurs when the body temperature begins to drop and gradually worsens. When the body temperature returns to normal, the paralysis stops and there is no sensory impairment.

Can be divided into the following types:

1. Spinal cord type This type is the most common. It is characterized by flaccid paralysis, asymmetry, loss of tendon reflexes, and hypotonia. The lower limbs and large muscle groups are more susceptible to involvement than the upper limbs and small muscle groups. However, only a single muscle group may be involved or all four limbs may be paralyzed. For example, when the neck and back muscles, diaphragm, and intercostal muscles are involved, there will be difficulties in erecting the head and sitting up, respiratory movement disorders, and paradoxical breathing.

2. The medullary type is also called the spherical type. It is caused by the invasion of the motor nerve nuclei of the cranial nerves and the respiratory and circulatory centers of the medulla oblongata. This type accounts for 5% to 10% of the paralysis type. When the respiratory center is damaged, irregular breathing and respiratory arrest occur. When the vascular motor center is damaged, there may be changes in blood pressure and pulse rate. Both are fatal lesions. When the cranial nerves are damaged, corresponding nerve paralysis symptoms and signs appear, with facial nerve and the Xth cranial nerve being the most common.

3. Cerebral type: This type is rare; it is characterized by high fever, irritability, convulsions or drowsiness and coma, and upper motor neuron spastic paralysis.

4. Mixed type: The above types exist at the same time.

(IV) Recovery period: Paralysis begins to recover from the distal end of the limbs and lasts for weeks to months. Generally, cases can recover completely within 8 months, while severe cases may take 6 to 18 months or longer.

(V) In severe cases of post-polio syndrome, the affected muscles atrophy and nerve function cannot be restored, resulting in deformities of the affected limbs. Some cases of paralysis develop progressive neuromuscular weakness and pain decades after infection, and the paralysis of the affected limbs worsens, which is called "post-polio muscular atrophy syndrome." The cause is unknown.

The above introduces the symptoms of polio. These are related to whether parents can detect their children's diseases in time and help them with treatment in time, so that parents can help their babies recover as soon as possible. Finally, I wish the baby a speedy recovery.