Know All About Poliomyelitis

The symptoms may depend on the type of poliomyelitis from which you are suffering. Listed below are the common symptoms for each type of polio.

Abortive Poliomyelitis

The common symptoms are:

1. Fatigue
2. Fever
3. Headache
4. Vomiting
5. Diarrhoea constipation
6. Sore throat

Non-paralytic Poliomyelitis

The common symptoms are:

1. Neck stiffness
2. Severe headaches
3. Sensitivity to light
4. Pain in arms and legs

Polioencephalitis

The common symptoms are:

1. Extreme tiredness
2. Anxiety
3. Seizures
4. Troubling concentration

Paralytic Poliomyelitis

The common symptoms are:

1. Muscle spasms
2. Touching sensitivity
3. Breathing problem

Types of Poliomyelitis

Here are different types of polio that may affect different body parts of an individual.

• Abortive Poliomyelitis: It doesn’t cause long-lasting issues to an individual. Mostly, people show flu-like and intestinal symptoms.
• Non-Paralytic Poliomyelitis: Under this type of polio, an individual may get swelling around their brain. It is riskier than abortive poliomyelitis and may demand hospitalisation in some cases.
• Polioencephalitis: This type of polio is most common in infants. Generally, the infants may show symptoms like brain swelling.
• Paralytic Poliomyelitis: It happens when poliovirus attacks your spinal cord and brain. Under this condition, your muscles may paralyze, leading to difficulty in breathing, speaking, swallowing, and moving limbs. It is also called spinal polio or bulbar polio depending on the affected body part. Both of these polio types can also appear together.
• Post-polio Syndrome: This condition happens when polio symptoms reappear after a certain time period.

Causes of Poliomyelitis

The common cause of poliomyelitis is poliovirus. The virus enters the respiratory and digestive systems via the mouth or nose, multiplying in the throat and intestine. Then it enters the bloodstream slowly and targets the neurological system.

Diagnosis of Poliomyelitis

A healthcare provider performs a physical examination to diagnose polio. He may also take body fluid samples like saliva from your throat, stool, blood, or cerebrospinal fluid, and ask about your symptoms. Moreover, it is important to disclose your travel plans to your healthcare provider.

Treatment of Poliomyelitis

Polio cannot be cured by any particular medication. Physical therapy is provided to paralyzed polio patients. Moreover, mechanical ventilation or breathing assistance is given to polio patients with weak or paralyzed breathing muscles.

You can also follow the following tips to improve polio symptoms:

1. Drink fluids such as water, juice, and both
2. Take pain relievers
3. Get physical therapy and do exercises recommended by your physician
4. Take a lot of rest
5. Use heat packs to get relief from muscle aches and pains

Is Poliomyelitis Covered in Health Insurance?

Poliomyelitis is covered under health insurance. This means any medical costs arising due to the treatment of polio can be claimed by an insurance company. Some expenses that are covered under a plan include pre-hospitalization, room rent, diagnostic tests, and more.

There are many health insurance companies in India. So, it is important to compare the plans on the basis of numerous factors like claim settlement ratio, sum assured, premium, discounts, and more. To compare and buy the best health insurance policy, you can visit InsuranceDekho.

Conclusion

In conclusion, poliomyelitis, or polio, happens due to a virus called poliovirus. Though there is no effective cure to treat the disease, any medical emergency arising due to it can place a financial burden on you. Therefore, make sure that you purchase a health insurance plan to deal with any medical emergencies.