Updated: 22-07-2025
Polio is also known as poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis in medical terms.
It is a contagious disease that occurs in the form of a virus.
The causes of polio are plenty, which can affect an individual for the rest of their life.
What are the Causes of Polio?
Polio is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system.
This can lead to temporary or permanent, total or partial paralysis in various parts of the body.
But, according to research 1 out of 100 people are affected with either temporary or permanent paralysis due to the polio virus.
Why Does Polio Occur?
Poliovirus spreads through faeces, coughs, sneezes, etc.
The poliovirus spreads from one person to another.
When a person comes into contact with the infected person’s faeces, the virus is transmitted.
It can even occur when the infected person’s cough or sneeze droplets spread into the air or fall on the healthy person.
The virus can also spread through food and water.
If the virus is transmitted through the mouth, it spreads from throat and multiplies in to all over the body.
In the process of multiplying in the body, it sometimes enters into bloodstreams and spread into the nervous system and increases the causes of polio.
When a virus spreads, it doesn’t show or affect the body immediately. It takes a few weeks to show up.
Who’s affected by the polio virus?
Usually, the polio virus mostly affects children below the age of 5.
The effect of this polio remains either permanently or temporarily, depending on the type of polio the child is affected by.
How does polio affect the body?
The polio virus’s effects on the body depend on the severity and cause of the polio virus present in the body.
If the virus is mild, it causes minor defects, and if the virus is severe and harsh, it affects major parts of the body.
What is the prevention method for polio?
There is no permanent prevention for polio once a child is affected by it.
It can be cured through a vaccine, which is called the “polio vaccine”.
If the child is affected by polio and unable to get polio vaccine drops at the right time, it increases the risk of the virus to the body and may also lead to death.
What is the polio vaccine?
The polio vaccine was invented in the year 1953, and it was made available to the people in 1957.
It is a remedy to cure or prevent the poliovirus.
The polio vaccine prepares children to fight the polio virus and protects them from the virus affecting the body.
A child who gets all the vaccine doses at the right time will not be affected by the polio virus or the causes of polio.
There are 2 types of polio vaccine, which play a vital role in protecting children from the virus.
- Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV): This will be in the form of injections. A series of injections given to the child right after 2 months of birth till 4-6 years old. Once injected with this vaccine, it is safe, secure, and will not cause the polio virus.
- Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV): This vaccine is given by mouth. It is the vaccine of choice in many countries around the globe. It is cost-effective, easy to use, and increases immunity. In some rare cases, this vaccine is affected by severe poliovirus, which may cause paralysis.
What are the causes of polio?
Polio is caused by a small virus known as RNA.
This RNA is part of the enterovirus group, which is a family of picornaviruses.
Types of Polio
There are three major types of causes of polio listed below.
- Type 1 Polio
- Type 2 Polio
- Type 3 Polio
Polio vaccine side effects
Getting infected with the polio vaccine is more dangerous than the poliovirus.
It increases the risk. Immediately contact if any of the below-provided signs are seen.
- Extreme drowsiness
- Fainting
- Breathing difficulties
- High fever
- Face, throat, or tongue swelling
Polio symptoms
Polio symptoms in babies or others do not have any specific symptoms.
There are very few chances of visible symptoms before being infected with the polio virus.
All over the globe, 95% of cases do not include any prior symptoms.
The visible symptoms appear depending on the type of polio virus the person affected has.
The initial symptoms of polio include the following:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- stiffness in the neck
- Limbs pain
- Tiredness
- Stomach pain
In some of the very rare cases, the polio virus attacks the spinal cord and brain, which leads to paralysis or death.
People can receive vaccines with a cough or fever, or other causes of polio.
But they should never miss any of the vaccines till the dose is completed.
Never miss giving polio drops to your child or other children.
Always be on time to give the polio vaccine to the children and prevent the spread of polio.
Bring polio awareness to your circle! Help in polio prevention! Make polio a polio-free country!
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Author’s Bio: Ashreetha Pendkar is a healthcare writer, trainer, a nd digital marketing expert. She loves to read healthcare content and spread her words about the importance of health to near & dear ones.
Verified By: Srinitha Busam – is a physiotherapist and research writer.
