Polio essays

Polio essays Before the development of the Salk and Sabin vaccines, polio was a serious infection that affected the central nervous system; however with proper vaccinations it can be eradicated in the United States today. There are different kinds of polio. They include spinal polio, non-paralytic form, and paralytic polio. Spinal polio is the most common form that occurs when polio viruses attack nerve cells and control the muscles of the legs, arms, trunk, diaphragm, abdomen, and pelvis. Stiffness in the neck and back also may develop. (World Book Encyclopedia) Non-paralytic form of polio has many symptoms. It is accompanied by nausea, headache, sore throat, back pain, neck pain, and stiffness. There are changes in reflex and elevated spinal fluid count. About sixty-five percent of known cases during the outbreak of polio were non-paralytic. Paralytic polio only has a few minor symptoms, but it has weakness in one or more muscle groups. (Polio Fact Sheet) There are three viruses that can cause polio, type I, II, III. They grow in living cells and get in the body through the nose and mouth, and then it is carried to the intestines. Poliomyelitis has several symptoms. Some of the most severe are paralysis, fever, stiff neck, nausea, and weakness in the muscle groups. (Diseases, 106) Post-Polio Syndrome is also a symptom and a late side effect of polio. Survivors of the Post-Polio Syndrome experience joint pain, muscular atrophy, fewer nerves, and they become weaker at a faster rate. (Dempsey, 2) Polio vaccines give life long immunity by two ways, by immunization and natural infection with the virus. (Polio Vaccines) There are two vaccines: the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated polio vaccine. The oral polio vaccine was invented by Albert Sabin in 1961. (Polio Vaccines) It is a weakened, live virus, which can be taken orally. This vaccine produces antibodies in the blood to fight the virus. ...