What are the symptoms and complications of polio?
Most people who are infected with polio (about 72 out of 100) do not show signs or symptoms. About one in four people will have similar symptoms to flu that last two to five days and go away on their own.
These symptoms include:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Fatigue or feeling tired
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Headache
Most people recover fully from polio, but some people can develop more serious complications from the virus.
These complications can include:
- Numbness or tingling in the legs or arms
- Paralysis in the legs, arms or torso
- Trouble breathing because of muscle paralysis in the lungs (can also lead to death)
About 40 percent of people who have fully recovered from polio can develop post-polio syndrome. This can occur up to 40 years after recovering from the initial illness. Symptoms of post-polio may start slowly and get increasingly worse.
These symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle atrophy (decrease in muscle size)
- New weakness in the same muscles polio affected
- Joint pain
- Scoliosis (curving of the spine)
- Difficulty breathing, sleeping, swallowing or participating in normal activities
When should my child get the polio vaccine?
Polio is more common in children younger than five years of age and in parts of the world who have not widely used vaccinations. Almost all children who get all the recommended doses of the polio vaccine will be protected from polio.
The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine that has been used in the United States since 2000. The CDC recommends all children in the United States receive IPV. Three doses of IPV provides at least 99 percent immunity from polio.
Stay on schedule!
For best protection, CDC recommends shots at the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 through 18 months
- 4 through 6 years
For children to attend school, Louisiana state law requires that children receive specific vaccines according to their vaccine schedule. Talk to your child’s doctor about the best strategy for vaccination.
In some cases, adults may also need a booster shot of the polio vaccine if:
- They work in a lab where they may come into contact with poliovirus.
- They work with patients who may have been exposed to poliovirus.
- They are planning to travel to areas of the world where poliovirus is more common.
Is the polio vaccine safe for my child?
The polio vaccine is safe and effective and the best way to protect your child from polio. Polio has been all but eradicated in the United States with the help of widespread vaccination efforts.
Most people who get the polio vaccine do not experience any side effects. For those who do, side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. Side effects can include pain or soreness at the spot of the injection or fever.