Some diseases are rare but have far reaching effects than those which are commonly encountered. Polio virus infection is one such rare disease. It usually affects children under the age of fifteen years but rarely adults. All the same, the disease may recur in a new form in fifteen to thirty years after the initial infection. This is what is termed as post polio syndrome. Post-polio blog outline this phenomenon in more details.
Once a person survives initial disease attack, it takes a long duration of time for the new symptoms to present. These symptoms imitate those of the previous disease and may be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. The symptoms include loss of muscle mass, pain, body malaise and fatigue. Occasionally, other symptoms may appear depending on body parts affected.
The means by which this disease manifests its symptoms and signs are not well documented. All that is available regarding this are theories which are thought to be the truth. Such theories abound but one that is most acceptable is neural fatigue. It tries to clarify that initial polio infection leads to death of several nerve cells. Following these deaths, remaining nerve cells takes over the role of dead ones by increasing their terminals. This becomes unsustainable at some point leading to recurrence of polio like symptoms thereafter.
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.
Treatment is mainly intended to relieve symptoms and preserve body function. It is more of a palliative intervention. One intervention involved is bed rest. In this state, one avoids straining and therefore is well rested. Similarly, some activities like movement may be achieved by aid of powered wheelchairs that reduces need for physical energy during movement. A second intervention is use of pain killers. These are drugs intended to block pain and therefore limit distress associated with it.
Of all the symptoms, fatigue is the most conspicuous and very distressing symptom. Nearly all persons with this syndrome complain of fatigue. They points out fatigue as one most undesired feature. To effectively handle this feature, a number of options are employed. These include fatigue medication, weight reduction, workload reduction as well as change of life style.
Recovery is usually possible in patients who have suffered from this state of health. However, this may depend on the body structures affected. Individuals with respiratory compromise tend to succumb to their illnesses while others tend to recover. All the same, those who recover do so after a considerably long period of time that may extend to years; eventually, they recover fully to their previous state of health.
There is hope for all persons affected by this disease. Despite the devastating symptoms and signs experience, proper care leads to gradual but full recovery of previous state of health. Individuals affected should therefore make effort to access health care as it preserves life and its quality.
Once a person survives initial disease attack, it takes a long duration of time for the new symptoms to present. These symptoms imitate those of the previous disease and may be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. The symptoms include loss of muscle mass, pain, body malaise and fatigue. Occasionally, other symptoms may appear depending on body parts affected.
The means by which this disease manifests its symptoms and signs are not well documented. All that is available regarding this are theories which are thought to be the truth. Such theories abound but one that is most acceptable is neural fatigue. It tries to clarify that initial polio infection leads to death of several nerve cells. Following these deaths, remaining nerve cells takes over the role of dead ones by increasing their terminals. This becomes unsustainable at some point leading to recurrence of polio like symptoms thereafter.
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.
Treatment is mainly intended to relieve symptoms and preserve body function. It is more of a palliative intervention. One intervention involved is bed rest. In this state, one avoids straining and therefore is well rested. Similarly, some activities like movement may be achieved by aid of powered wheelchairs that reduces need for physical energy during movement. A second intervention is use of pain killers. These are drugs intended to block pain and therefore limit distress associated with it.
Of all the symptoms, fatigue is the most conspicuous and very distressing symptom. Nearly all persons with this syndrome complain of fatigue. They points out fatigue as one most undesired feature. To effectively handle this feature, a number of options are employed. These include fatigue medication, weight reduction, workload reduction as well as change of life style.
Recovery is usually possible in patients who have suffered from this state of health. However, this may depend on the body structures affected. Individuals with respiratory compromise tend to succumb to their illnesses while others tend to recover. All the same, those who recover do so after a considerably long period of time that may extend to years; eventually, they recover fully to their previous state of health.
There is hope for all persons affected by this disease. Despite the devastating symptoms and signs experience, proper care leads to gradual but full recovery of previous state of health. Individuals affected should therefore make effort to access health care as it preserves life and its quality.
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