The Struggle for Fighting Polio Virus in Pakistan: A Review

Komal Abdul Rahim*
Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Periodicity:November - January'2021
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.10.4.17413

Abstract

Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease which is caused by the polio virus. It belongs to the family picornaviridae. This virus is mainly responsible for causing paralysis (person unable to move his parts of the body) if it gets severe. Poliomyelitis is so contagious that it can be transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected person through direct contact. Polio virus is often found in person's throat and intestines; therefore, it can also be transmitted via fecal-oral route i.e., polio virus is present in the faeces of an infected person, which gives the virus an opportunity to enter into water supply or food. When the uninfected person ingests the infected food or water, he gets infected; therefore, polio virus is mostly found in poor sanitation areas. As soon as the virus enters the body, if it invades the brain and spinal cord, it can lead to paralysis. The incubation time period for polio virus is approximately 5-35 days and shows three different patterns i.e., subclinical, abortive, non-paralytic and paralytic symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis for poliomyelitis; stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and throat secretion samples are drawn for polio virus. According to the 1988 statistics, poliomyelitis was very much prevalent in the world, but it is now mostly under control. Sadly, Pakistan is still counted in the countries which are not free from the polio virus, thus cases of polio are still being reported. There is no cure for polio once the polio virus invades your body. However, early prevention i.e., vaccination can protect you from getting polio virus. Moreover, the children under the age of 5 are more vulnerable to get infected by polio virus.

Keywords

Children, Fecal-Oral Transmission, Polio Virus.

How to Cite this Article?

Rahim, K. A. (2021). The Struggle for Fighting Polio Virus in Pakistan: A Review. i-manager's Journal on Nursing, 10(4), 4-7. https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.10.4.17413
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