Polio is also called poliomyelitis. It is can cause serious paralysis in children but can be prevented by taken polio Vaccine. Polio is transmitted through contaminated water or food, or contact with an infected person.

Symptoms

Usually begins with headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, muscular pain and later followed by paralysis.

Causative Agent

This is caused by the type of polio viruses designated 1,2 and 3.These viruses are small, none enveloped, single stranded, positive sense RNA viruses.

Pathogenesis

This virus enter into the body through mouth. They infect the throat and intestinal tract and consequently invade blood stream. For People that do not have strong immunity, the viruses enter the nervous system and attack the motor nerves. It affect the brain and spinal cord.

Prevention

Vaccination should be administered against the polioviruses. Contaminated swimming pool and drinking water should be treated with chlorine.