Post-polio syndrome
Polio is a serious viral infection that used to be common in the UK and worldwide. It’s rarer now because it can be prevented with vaccination.
In around 1 in 100 people, the polio virus causes paralysis, which in rare cases can be life threatening.
Cases of polio in the UK fell dramatically when routine vaccination was introduced in the mid-1950s.
In around 1 in 100 people, the polio virus causes paralysis, which in rare cases can be life threatening.
Cases of polio in the UK fell dramatically when routine vaccination was introduced in the mid-1950s.
Cases of polio in the UK fell dramatically when routine vaccination was introduced in the mid-1950s.
Symptoms
The symptoms of post-polio syndrome include:
muscle weakness
shrinking of the muscles (atrophy)
tight joints (contractures)
pain in muscles or joints
chronic fatigue including physical tiredness and brain fatigue
swallowing and speech problems
respiratory problems like breathlessness and sleep apnoea
cramps and muscle twitching
being sensitive to cold temperatures
The muscle weakness and atrophy usually affects muscles that were previously affected by polio. Sometimes it affects other muscles.
This can impact your mobility and your ability to do everyday tasks like brushing your teeth or drying your hair.
Chronic fatigue is one of the most common and troublesome symptoms of post-polio syndrome. This can be physical fatigue (tiredness) and brain fatigue. Brain fatigue can cause problems with concentration, attention and memory. MRI scans can show white spots in the brains of polio survivors which may be related to brain fatigue.
The symptoms can gradually get worse over many years. There are supportive treatments that can help with symptoms.
Although post-polio syndrome is rarely life threatening, some people can develop breathing and swallowing difficulties that can lead to serious problems like chest infections.
Some people experience a sensitivity to some types of anaesthesia causing them to take longer to recover from having anaesthesia.