Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome

Also called: Infantile paralysis, Poliomyelitis, PPS
Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It attacks your nervous system. In rare cases, polio infection can cause paralysis. Polio vaccination will protect most people for life. The United States and most other countries eradicated polio decades ago, except for rare cases.
The disease most commonly affects young children. Poliovirus spreads in human waste. People usually get it from contaminated food or water. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, vomiting, neck stiffness, and leg and arm pain. Most infected people never have symptoms. No treatment will reverse polio paralysis. Moist heat, physical therapy and medicines might ease symptoms.
Some people who've had polio develop post-polio syndrome (PPS) years later. Symptoms include tiredness, new muscle weakness and muscle and joint pain. There is no way to prevent or cure PPS.
Polio Vaccine
What is polio?
Poliomyelitis (polio, for short) is caused by a virus. The virus can be spread by drinking water with the polio virus in it. It can also be passed by close contact, such as kissing, with an infected person. Polio is a serious illness. It can cause paralysis (when you can't move your arms and legs) or even death. Before the first polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s, thousands of children got polio every year. Fortunately, the use of the polio vaccine has made the disease very rare in most parts of the world.
How can polio be prevented?
You can keep your children from getting polio by making sure they get the polio vaccine.
What is the polio vaccine?
A vaccine is used to protect you from getting a disease. The polio vaccine, also called IPV, is given by injection (a "shot"). (It used to be given by drops in the mouth.)
When should my child be vaccinated?
Most children get 4 doses of polio vaccine on this schedule:
First dose when they are 2 months old.
Second dose when they are 4 months old.
Third dose when they are 6 to 18 months old.
Last dose when they are 4 to 6 years old.
Are there reasons not to get polio shots?
Your child should not get the polio shots if he or she is allergic to these medicines: neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B.
What are the risks of the vaccine?
Most people have no problems. Some people will have some pain or redness where the shot was given. Vaccines carry a small risk of serious harm, such as a severe allergic reaction.