Polio Diseases Are Muncule Again, Get To Know Symptoms And Prevention

Check Children's Health (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Parents need to increase their vigilance by recognizing polio symptoms and methods of preventing children from contracting them. Polio is a nerve disease that can cause permanent paralysis, caused by highly contagious viral infections.

"The spread of the polio virus can occur through direct contact with the presence of polio sufferers, or through the consumption of food and drinks that have been contaminated with the polio virus," said Medical Content Marketing Senior Manager Alodokter dr. Abi Noya in a release received by VOI.

Based on the symptoms, there are two types of polio, namely polio which does not cause paralysis (non-paralysis) and polio which causes paralysis (paralysis).

Non-paralysis polyo causes symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, muscles feeling weak, stiff in the neck and back, as well as pain and numbness in the arm or leg.

These symptoms can last for 1-10 days and will disappear by itself.

While the polio paralysis, the initial symptoms were the same as the symptoms of non-paralysis polio. But after one week, there will be other symptoms that follow such as loss of the body's reflex, muscle tension that hurts, and a weak leg or arm.

Abi mengatakan bahwa jika sudah terkena polio, maka penanganannya akan sulit dilakukan. Terlebih, obat yang ada saat ini baru mampu mengulangi keluhan, melambat perjalanan penyakit, dan mencegah kompikom, bukan membuat polio sepenuhnya.

"Therefore, we should not underestimate the saying that we have often heard, namely preventing it from being better than cure. By keeping up with the basic immunization schedule that has been launched by the government through programs from the Ministry of Health, we can prevent and even end the spread of polio," said Abi.

Based on the recommendations of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association, the oral polio vaccine (OPV) that is dripped into the baby's mouth can be given immediately after birth, then at the age of 2, 3, 4, and 18 months.

To ensure the need for immunization of children according to their age, parents can visit health centers and posyandu around the residence.

In addition, it is also important for parents to monitor children's growth and development. If the child shows symptoms of polio, immediately go to a pediatrician.

"As a first step, parents can also take advantage of telemedicine services to consult a pediatrician," Abi concluded.