Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is an infection of the central nervous system that attacks the cells of nerves that control the muscles. It may destroy or weaken them, causing paralysis. Most commonly, it affects the arms and legs. Less frequently, it paralyses the muscles of breathing or swallowing. Actually, it can affect any muscle.
With the introduction of compulsory anti-poliomyelitis vaccinations by the Australian and New Zealand governments in the early 1960s, the incidence of this disease has fallen dramatically to a few cases per year.
The early symptoms of polio include fever, headache, vomiting, fretfulness, drowsiness, sore throat, change in bowel habits, and stiffness and pain in the back and neck. These do not necessarily mean polio, but do not ignore them. Many diseases of childhood start in this way, but they, too, can be serious, and it is best not to dismiss such symptoms as just a cold or upset stomach. Call your doctor promptly, for early good treatment can prevent not only death but the disabling effects of this disease.
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