Question 1

what are the tests for poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

See below:: Tests include:
cultures of throat washings, stools, or cerebrospinal fluid (csf); routine CSF examination; test for levels of antibodies to the polio virus. 
A physician may find: abnormal reflexes; back stiffness; difficulty lifting the head or legs when lying flat on the back; stiff neck ; & trouble bending the neck.

Question 2

how can a person catch poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Exposure to virus: The oral secretions of an infected patient are contageous before the onset of symptoms & up to two weeks. The patients stool will contain virus for weeks. You can be exposed to droplets of a cough& the virus can be active for days at room temperature on surfaces. Touch it & touch your mouth & you are exposed. It is a human to human only germ, no pets or insects.

Question 3

how can poliomyelitis be transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Oral secretion/stool: The virus is active in the oral secretions of an infected patient from shortly before the onset of symptoms for up to 2 weeks. It is excreted in the stool for several weeks after the onset of illness. The virus is stable for days at room temperature. Contact with any viral material on hands or inhaled as droplets can pass the infection.

Question 4

how can humans contract poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Virus: Poliomyelitis is a viral infection. It has been nearly, but not completely eradicated from the world, but there are still cases in countries such as pakistan, afghanistan and nigeria. Although, not recently seen in usa, it is still important to vaccinate for polio. Since it has not been completely eradicated it would only take a few years for it to come back if we stopped vaccinations.

Question 5

what are the symptoms of poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Depends on type: There are two forms of poliomyelitis- the first does not cause long term muscle and nerve damage and has symptoms such as fever, headaches and GI symptoms- the paralytic form may have those symptoms plus signs of muscle weakness and floppy arms or legs
Here is a helpful summary 
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polio/basics/symptoms/CON-20030957

Question 6

who is most at risk from poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Unimmunized: Maternal antibodies often protect a baby for their first weeks, after which they are at risk. Mortality and degree of disability was greater after the age of puberty when the disease was prevalent. Death often came within the first two wks.

Question 7

what can you tell me about poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Polio: Poliomyelitis is mostly eradicated in the modern world due to vaccines, and the disease exists mainly in feudal and primitive countries such as iran.  It is caused by a virus which passes into the GI tract and then enters the spine.  It affects the nerve cell body causing severe focal weakness and muscular atrophy, but can allow prevent breathing.

Question 8

what medications can treat poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Polio: Treatment is supportive, such as Antibiotics to prevent infection in weak muscles, Analgesics for pain, Moderate exercise, &amp; a nutritious diet , along with Rehabilitation such as Physical therapy.

Question 9

who typically is affected by poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

Motor nerve cells: Polio virus affects the motor nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain stem.  These cells are responsible for control of voluntary muscles causing paralysis.  If the muscles of the chest wall are involved, the individual need mechanical assistance to breathe.

Question 10

what are the major presenting symptoms of poliomyelitis?

Accepted Answer

See below:: As a highly infectious virus, polio invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs. 1 in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). 5-10% die due to resp. Failure.

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