What are the symptoms of poliomyelitis in children?
Disease description:
The child's body is showing some abnormalities, and I'm worried it might be poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis). I would like to know what symptoms are associated with poliomyelitis.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, is an acute infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Symptoms of the disease manifest as follows:
1. Prodromal stage: Main symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, excessive sweating, and night sweats. The patient may also experience irritability, nausea, vomiting, headache, cough, diarrhea, or constipation. This stage usually lasts 1 to 4 days.
2. Pre-paralytic stage: The child develops persistent high fever, pain in the limb muscles, which worsens with movement or changes in position. Other symptoms include skin redness, irritability, excessive sweating, and hot flushes.
3. Paralytic stage: The condition becomes more severe, with the child developing asymmetric muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis, gradually diminished tendon reflexes, and reduced muscle tone. If cranial nerves are affected, symptoms such as high fever, altered consciousness, and seizures may occur.
4. Recovery stage: One to two weeks after paralysis occurs, the child enters the recovery phase, beginning from the distal extremities. However, long-term complications often remain, such as limb deformities and muscle weakness and pain in the affected areas.
5. Subclinical infection: Accounting for more than 90% of cases, patients exhibit no symptoms but specific antibodies can be detected in their serum.
6. Mild poliomyelitis: Characterized by non-specific symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea, which resolve spontaneously after several days.
7. Aseptic meningitis: Accompanied by signs of meningeal irritation, such as neck stiffness and a positive Kernig's sign.
8. Paralytic poliomyelitis: Characterized by acute flaccid paralysis, often affecting limbs, especially the lower limbs. In severe cases respiratory muscles may be paralyzed, endangering life.
Treatment mainly involves symptomatic and supportive care, while prevention primarily relies on vaccination. If a child shows any symptoms suggestive of polio, immediate medical attention should be sought.
