Uh oh, Polio!

Medical Topic of the day:
Today's Topic:  Polio

No, not this.

Off the top of my head:  I know that it is a debilitating, contagious virus that was the scourge of the 19th and 20th centuries.  I believe it effects neuromuscular function somehow but I do not know by what mechanism.  It was mostly abolished in the US in the 60's with a vaccine.  I know there used to be some strange vaccination process that left a small circular scar on your arm.  Still in the world today, it is one of the diseases on the Bill and Melinda Gate's Foundation 20 disease hit list.

My research today:  The disease is officially named Poliomyelitis and is caused by the poliovirus.  It is spread by direct contact through your nose or mouth by plegm, sputum, feces, etc.  It multiples in the mucosa of your digestive tract spreading into your blood stream and lymph system.

The incubation for poliomyelitis is about 7 to 14 days.  In 90% of cases the virus does nothing. In 9% it causes typical symptoms of a virus, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue.  In the very unlucky 1% it gets into your nervous system and preferentially infecting and destroying motor neurons causing acute paralysis to all or part of your body which is irreversible (usually your legs).  Of those very unlucky there is 5 to 10% of ridiculously unlucky that die when they cannot move their chest muscles to breathe.

Still want to be the 1% Rupert?  Huh?

There is no cure for polio, only prevention with vaccination.  As the poliovirus mainly infects children under 5 years of age it is wise to always have your children up-to-date on all vaccinations, especially when traveling.  Although the US and surrounding countries are polio-free it is still technically possible to import the poliovirus.

There are only a few poliovirus endemic countries in Asia and Africa with 1352 cases reported last year.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in coordination with the World Health Organization have heavily invested in worldwide vaccination programs to stop polio outbreaks wherever and whenever they are found.

Quest to 180:
Current Weight:  227
Activity Today:  None, resting my foot.
Diet today:  Not too bad. Limiting my diet severely.

Comments: I am so mad that I can't workout.

The MAN:
Confidence Level:  Meh.
Social Engineering Tactics:  Confidence
Comments:  At this rate I will be working on this forever.


Random:
Listening to:  Nothing today.
Watching:  American Restoration
Reading:  The Dragon in The Sea by Frank Hubert
Something fun: Steve Martin's Twitter!

Our 32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt had leg paralysis from polio and still defeated Hitler.

Questions or comments can be submitted to dudaday@gmail.com

Disclaimer:  I am not a health care provider, any information presented in this blog should not be considered advice it is mearly an outlet to slake my curiosity.  You should always consult your primary medical provider for any concerns or illness.  Unlike Tylenol, I am not approved by the FDA or American Medical Association to treat or provide relief for any ailment.