Polio is caused by what kind of pathogen

The polio vaccine, or IPV Inactivated polio vaccine , is recommended four times, when your child is:. For Patients. Contact the Division of Infectious Diseases Fax What is poliomyelitis? Types of poliomyelitis Abortive poliomyelitis: The mildest form. Nonparalytic poliomyelitis : Symptoms are more severe than abortive, but not as bad as paralytic.

Paralytic poliomyelitis: The most severe; may result in permanent paralysis of certain muscle groups, including breathing muscles and leg muscles. What causes poliomyelitis? Is poliomyelitis common? Initial symptoms are similar to non-paralytic polio.

But after a week, more severe symptoms will appear. These symptoms include:. Less than 1 percent of all polio cases will result in permanent paralysis. In 5—10 percent of the polio paralysis cases, the virus will attack the muscles that help you breathe and cause death. This can occur after 15 to 40 years. Common symptoms of post-polio syndrome PPS are:.

Treatment involves management strategies to improve your quality of life and reduce pain or fatigue. As a highly contagious virus, polio transmits through contact with infected feces.

Objects like toys that have come near infected feces can also transmit the virus. Sometimes it can transmit through a sneeze or a cough, as the virus lives in the throat and intestines.

This is less common. People living in areas with limited access to running water or flush toilets often contract polio from drinking water contaminated by infected human waste. According to the Mayo Clinic , the virus is so contagious that anyone living with someone who has the virus can catch it too.

Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems — such as those who are HIV-positive — and young children are the most susceptible to the poliovirus. Your doctor will diagnose polio by looking at your symptoms. Doctors can only treat the symptoms while the infection runs its course. The best way to prevent polio is to get the vaccination. On rare occasions these shots can cause mild or severe allergic reactions , such as:. The greatest risk is when traveling to an area where polio is still common.

Make sure to get a series of shots before you travel. Polio is a highly contagious virus that can result in spinal cord and brainstem paralysis. It most commonly affects children under 5 years old. Cases of polio peaked in the United States in the with 57, reported cases. However, anyone who hasn't been vaccinated is at risk of developing the disease. Paralytic polio can lead to temporary or permanent muscle paralysis, disability, bone deformities and death.

Most children in the United States receive four doses of inactivated poliovirus vaccine IPV at the following ages:. IPV is safe for people with weakened immune systems, although it's not certain just how protective the vaccine is in cases of severe immune deficiency. Common side effects are pain and redness at the injection site.

IPV can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Because the vaccine contains trace amounts of the antibiotics streptomycin, polymyxin B and neomycin, it shouldn't be given to anyone who's reacted to these medications.

Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction usually occur within minutes to a few hours after the shot. Watch for:. However, certain adults at high risk of polio who have had a primary vaccination series with either IPV or the oral polio vaccine OPV should receive a single booster shot of IPV. A single booster dose of IPV lasts a lifetime. Adults at risk include those who are traveling to parts of the world where polio still occurs or those who care for people who have polio.

If you're unvaccinated or your vaccination status is undocumented, get a series of primary polio vaccination shots — two doses of IPV at four- to eight-week intervals and a third dose six to 12 months after the second dose. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Polio is a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death. Nerve cell neuron Open pop-up dialog box Close.