What Is Post-Polio Syndrome?
Post-polio syndrome is a group of disabling signs and symptoms that appear years after you have recovered from polio illness [1]. These signs and symptoms usually appear between 30 to 40 years after having polio.
Infection from the polio virus can lead to several complications, including death. However, the introduction of the inactivated polio vaccine in the 1950s greatly reduced polio’s spread. There are three variations of poliovirus, called wild poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3. Wild polio types 2 and 3 have been eradicated (no longer exist), and wild polio type 1 still exists but only in a few parts of the world.
In recent times, very few people in developed countries experience severe complications like paralysis due to the polio virus. As a result of the polio vaccine, people can prevent the illness, and not have to worry about post-polio syndrome. However, there are still many people who had polio at a young age who now later in life might develop the post-polio syndrome.