Symptoms of Infection |
- In 70-75% of cases, no symptoms of the infection present themselves.
- In the cases that do present symptoms, the virus is classified in three different ways, depending on the symptoms.
- Abortive polio: flu-like symptoms (headache, fever, sore throat) that develop 3-5 days after exposure to the virus, full recovery in 24-72 hours, does not involve central nervous system
- Non-Paralytic polio: symptoms (fever, migraine, stiffness, muscle pain, areas of increased and altered sensation) that develop 7-14 days after exposure -- does not progress past this aseptic meningitis
- Paralytic polio: occurs in <1% of all polio cases, 3 types of paralysis can occur- spinal polio (damages spine), bulbar polio (damages brainstem), and bulbospinal polio (damages both), about 40% of people develop post-polio syndrome around 15 to 40 years after their initial paralysis, during which they experience greater muscle deterioration and pain
Sources:
- http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious_diseases/enteroviruses/poliomyelitis.html
- http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8611
- http://www.healthline.com/health/poliomyelitis#Types2
- http://www.polioeradication.org/Polioandprevention.aspx