Illness is a very distressing phenomenon to each and every person. Being incurable disease even worsens the situation further. Incurable diseases are few and polio virus disease is one such rare illness. It is very distressing and disabling. The sad truth is that even some of those who survive this illness are faced with other related health conditions later in life. Fifteen years after suffering from poliomyelitis, one is likely to suffer from another illness named as post polio syndrome as post-polio blog posts call it.
Signs and or symptoms do occur several years after an attack. These signs usually resemble those of initial infection and include muscle wasting, pain, weakness and fatigue. Limbs are more affected than other body structures. Such symptoms may be evident in limbs which were initially spared by the disease. This condition is a progressive one and may greatly impair ability to perform activities of daily living like sleeping.
Mechanism of action remains unknown. All that is available is science creation of ideas thought to be real. One such theory explains that exhaustion of remaining nerve cells is responsible for the polio-like features observed long after an initial condition is managed. The death of such cells is associated with increased workload that finally becomes unbearable.
Diagnosing this state of health is challenging. There are so many differentials like aging, poliomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome among many more. In addition, there are no specified lab tests to verify this disease. All the same, there are up to three important ways to diagnose this disease. These include previous diagnosis of polio, long interval of time after initial diagnosis and finally gradual onset of weakness and malaise.
Several symptomatic management options exist. They serve to eliminate distressing features experienced by patient as pain but not to cure the primary illness. There is no clear curative regime available to manage this disease. Adequate rest, pain control and fatigue control are but a few care modalities available. Drugs may also be used alongside treatment options available.
A third measure is intended to control fatigue. This has been pointed out as the most distressing symptom among others. All the same, there are a number of options that can be used to effectively bring it under control. Such measures include use of lower limb support items as crutches, change of life style, reduction of body weight for obese persons and effective use of powered wheelchairs. In addition, use of fatigue drugs may be of help.
Prognosis is good for persons suffering from this illness. Most persons affected recover fully to their previous state of health. However, a number of victims succumb to their illness when vital body functions are impaired. One such case may involve compromise of respiratory muscles. Recovery usually takes a longer time but this dependent upon several factors and individual differences. Despite being a progressive disease, case fatality is low and only a quarter of all victims succumb to it.
Even though there is no definite treatment for this disease, it is possible to control its symptoms and signs effectively. This is a nice way of preventing permanent disability and relieving one of distress. Let all affected persons be assisted as this is the only sure way of manning this illness.
Signs and or symptoms do occur several years after an attack. These signs usually resemble those of initial infection and include muscle wasting, pain, weakness and fatigue. Limbs are more affected than other body structures. Such symptoms may be evident in limbs which were initially spared by the disease. This condition is a progressive one and may greatly impair ability to perform activities of daily living like sleeping.
Mechanism of action remains unknown. All that is available is science creation of ideas thought to be real. One such theory explains that exhaustion of remaining nerve cells is responsible for the polio-like features observed long after an initial condition is managed. The death of such cells is associated with increased workload that finally becomes unbearable.
Diagnosing this state of health is challenging. There are so many differentials like aging, poliomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome among many more. In addition, there are no specified lab tests to verify this disease. All the same, there are up to three important ways to diagnose this disease. These include previous diagnosis of polio, long interval of time after initial diagnosis and finally gradual onset of weakness and malaise.
Several symptomatic management options exist. They serve to eliminate distressing features experienced by patient as pain but not to cure the primary illness. There is no clear curative regime available to manage this disease. Adequate rest, pain control and fatigue control are but a few care modalities available. Drugs may also be used alongside treatment options available.
A third measure is intended to control fatigue. This has been pointed out as the most distressing symptom among others. All the same, there are a number of options that can be used to effectively bring it under control. Such measures include use of lower limb support items as crutches, change of life style, reduction of body weight for obese persons and effective use of powered wheelchairs. In addition, use of fatigue drugs may be of help.
Prognosis is good for persons suffering from this illness. Most persons affected recover fully to their previous state of health. However, a number of victims succumb to their illness when vital body functions are impaired. One such case may involve compromise of respiratory muscles. Recovery usually takes a longer time but this dependent upon several factors and individual differences. Despite being a progressive disease, case fatality is low and only a quarter of all victims succumb to it.
Even though there is no definite treatment for this disease, it is possible to control its symptoms and signs effectively. This is a nice way of preventing permanent disability and relieving one of distress. Let all affected persons be assisted as this is the only sure way of manning this illness.
