JAKARTA (RIAUPOS.CO) — Indonesia has polio Extraordinary Event Status (KLB) after 1 case was found in Pidie, Aceh. This disease is caused by a virus that can cause paralysis.
Director-General of Disease Prevention and Control Maxi Rein Rondonuwu said the mode of transmission of polio is by the fecal-oral method. Polio is spread by person-to-person contact.
“When a child is infected with wild poliovirus, the virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestines. This is then discharged into the environment via faeces where it can spread rapidly through the community, especially in situations of poor hygiene and sanitation,” Maxi said in a recent virtual statement.
Symptoms, signs and incubation time
The Ministry of Health website states that the incubation period of the polio virus usually takes 3-6 days. And paralysis occurs within 7-21 days.
Most infected people (90%) have no symptoms or symptoms are very mild and usually go unrecognized. In other conditions, initial symptoms include fever, tiredness, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, and leg pain.
The virus will not be likely to infect and die if a child receives a full polio immunization. Polio can be spread when food or drink is contaminated with feces. Most people infected with the polio virus have no signs of illness and never realize they have been infected.
There is no medicine yet
There is no cure for polio, only treatments to relieve symptoms. Physical therapy is used to stimulate the muscles, and antispasmodic drugs are given to relax the muscles and increase range of motion.
While this may improve mobility, it cannot treat the permanent paralysis of polio. If you have been exposed to polio, the actions taken, i.e. case management, are more emphasized on supportive measures and disability prevention, so that the limbs strive to function as normally as possible and the patient is hospitalized for at least 7 days or until the patient goes beyond the acute period.
Early diagnosis and early treatment to speed recovery and prevent further disability. Polio cases with mild clinical symptoms should be sent home, if severe clinical symptoms should be sent to the hospital.
No one knows why only a small percentage of infections cause paralysis. Some of the major identified risk factors that increase the likelihood of paralysis in a person infected with poliomyelitis, such as immune deficiency, pregnancy, removal of tonsils (tonsillectomy), intramuscular injections such as medication, strenuous exercise, and injury.
Source: www.jawapos.com
Publisher: Edward Yaman
