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WHAT IS POST POLIO SYNDROME

Post Polio Syndrome is a poorly understood condition that can affect people who have had polio in the past.

Polio is a viral infection that used to be common in the UK, but is now rare.

Most people who had Polio would have fought off the infection without even realising they were infected.

Some people with Polio would have had paralysis, muscle weakness and shrinking of the muscles. But usually, these problems would have either gone away over the following weeks or months, or remained the same for years afterwards.

Post Polio Syndrome is where some of these symptoms return or get worse many years or decades after the original polio infection.

SYMPTOMS OF POST POLIO SYNDROME

Post Polio Syndrome can include a wide range of symptoms that develop gradually over time, including:

persistent fatigue (extreme tiredness)
muscle weakness
shrinking muscles
muscle and joint pain
sleep apnoea

The condition can have a significant impact on everyday life, making it very difficult to get around and carry out certain tasks and activities. The symptoms tend to get gradually worse over many years, but this happens very slowly and treatment may help slow it down further.

Post Polio Syndrome is rarely life-threatening, although some people develop breathing and swallowing difficulties that can lead to serious problems, such as chest infections.

WHO'S AFFECTED

Post Polio Syndrome only affects people who've had polio. It usually develops 15 to 40 years after the infection.

The condition has become more common in the UK in recent years, because of the high number of Polio cases that occurred during the 1940s and 1950s, before routine vaccination was introduced. It's estimated that there are around 120,000 people living in the UK who survived Polio when they were younger. Some of these have, or will develop, Post Polio Syndrome.

It's not known exactly how many Polio survivors are or will be affected by Post Polio Syndrome. Estimates vary from as low as 15% to as high as 80%.

WHAT CAUSES POST-POLIO SYNDROME?

The exact cause of post Polio Syndrome is unclear. It's not known whether anything can be done to prevent it.

The leading theory is that it's the result of the gradual deterioration of nerve cells in the spinal cord (motor neurones) that were damaged by the Polio virus. This would explain why the condition can take years to appear.

Post Polio Syndrome isn't contagious. The theory that the Polio virus may lie dormant in your body, causing Post Polio Syndrome when it becomes reactivated at a later stage, has been disproven.

It's not clear why only some people who've had polio develop Post Polio Syndrome. Those who had severe Polio when they were younger may be more likely to develop the condition.

Contacts us: 0800 043 1935
Email us: info@britishpolio.org.uk

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The British Polio Fellowship

Oct 241 min read

The Neurology Academy work with BPF to raise awareness

On 24 October, World Polio Day, the British Polio Fellowship and the Neurology Academy launched educational materials aimed at clinicians, specialist nurses, and healthcare professionals, focusing on poliomyelitis and the treatment of polio survivors.

The British Polio Fellowship, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by polio, has collaborated with the Neurology Academy to produce both an article and a video. These resources explain the later effects of polio, the challenges polio survivors face in accessing treatment, and the Optimal Clinical Pathway for Polio Survivors.

In the video, Frances Quinn, a polio survivor and lead trustee for the Pathway, shares her personal experiences to highlight the obstacles faced by individuals living with the condition. She is joined by Kripen Dhrona, Chief Executive Officer, and Dr Simon Shaw, the Pathway’s lead clinician, who at the time worked in the Post-Polio Syndrome Service at the Lane Fox Unit in Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London.

This initiative emerged from discussions between Ruth Stross, Head of Nursing at the Neurology Academy, and the British Polio Fellowship about increasing awareness of polio among healthcare professionals and improving care for those affected.

The Neurology Academy provides education for clinicians, specialist nurses, and other healthcare professionals, with a focus on disease management and enhancing healthcare services.

To view the materials:

Article: https://neurologyacademy.org/articles/world-polio-day-understanding-the-clinical-care-needs-of-polio-survivors

Video: https://youtu.be/L9y8dF0IwGM

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