Symptoms of Polio
Symptoms usually show up 3 to 21 days after infection. Many people don’t get any symptoms at all, but when they do, they can range from mild to severe.
Milder symptoms might include:
- fever
- tiredness or weakness
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- muscle aches or stiffness
More serious cases can lead to:
- meningitis (swelling around the brain and spinal cord)
- encephalitis (brain inflammation)
- paralysis—sometimes quite suddenly, within 3–4 days
In the worst cases, polio can cause:
- severe muscle pain
- trouble moving your neck or back
- problems breathing or swallowing
- death, if the breathing muscles are affected.