How can you tell if you have mild polio?

Mild polio can be initially detected by observing the child's motor function, muscle development, and abnormal nerve reflexes. Common symptoms include mild limb weakness, muscle atrophy, and difficulty walking. The specific manifestations need to be comprehensively judged based on medical history, physical examination, and auxiliary examinations. If polio is suspected, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, confirm the diagnosis through detailed examinations, and develop a treatment plan.

1) Observe the child’s motor function abnormalities

Mild polio may manifest as a child's inability to complete some basic movements like his peers, such as walking, crawling or standing may be weak, often accompanied by slight limb incoordination. Parents can pay attention to whether their children often fall, walk with a limp, or have obvious unilateral limb weakness. These manifestations may indicate impaired nerve or muscle function. It is recommended to take the child to the pediatric neurology department in time for a preliminary diagnosis through a clinical examination by a professional doctor, including muscle strength testing and posture assessment.

2) Pay attention to muscle development and atrophy

One of the characteristics of mild polio is the asymmetrical development of the muscles of the affected limbs. Parents can observe their children's thighs, calves or arms to see if one side of the muscles is weaker or gradually atrophies. Early mild patients may not immediately show obvious atrophy, but over time, weak muscles may appear shrunken. At this time, an electromyography test can be performed to determine whether muscle damage is related to nerve paralysis.

3) Check for abnormal reflexes and associated symptoms

Mild poliomyelitis is often accompanied by weakened or absent tendon reflexes, such as abnormal knee jerk reflexes. Some children may show abnormal spinal posture, such as mild scoliosis. These superficial symptoms require further verification by doctors through physical examinations and imaging tests (such as X-rays or MRI) to help rule out the possibility of other diseases.

4) Clinical examination and laboratory diagnosis

If the above symptoms occur, you need to seek medical attention immediately. In the hospital, doctors usually use cerebrospinal fluid analysis to determine whether there is inflammation of the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, and combine virus culture and PCR testing to determine whether it is caused by polio virus.

Poliomyelitis is a vaccine-preventable disease. Usually, planned vaccination in the country can effectively prevent the disease. If you suspect that your child has related symptoms, you should seek professional medical help immediately to obtain a clear diagnosis and intervention measures to prevent the disease from worsening.