The treatment of polio should always be guided by the pediatrician, in the case of the child, or by the gp, in the case of the adult; However, this can be done at home and usually begins with absolute rest, as the disease causes severe muscle aches and there is no antivirus capable of eliminating the organism responsible for infection.
In addition to rest, it is also advisable to provide good hydration and start using the medicines, indicated by your doctor, to relieve symptoms that cause more discomfort:
- In the most severe cases.
- Where the infection causes breathing difficulties.
- With signs such as rapid breathing or bluish fingers and lips.
- It is necessary to get to the hospital quickly.
- As it may be necessary to stay in the hospital to use an oxygen mask.
- Or fan at all times.
- Until symptoms improve.
In addition to the treatment recommended by your doctor, it is also possible to use hot compresses to improve muscle movement and relieve muscle aches.Learn how to make hot compresses.
In almost all cases, polio is curable after about 10 days, however, if the infection affects the brain or spinal cord, treatment can be more complicated, with a high risk of sequelae such as paralysis or deformities of the hips, knees or ankles, for example.
The main sequel to polio is the development of paralysis, especially in the muscles of the legs and arms, in children whose infection has reached the brain or spinal cord; However, joint deformities can also occur, as difficulty moving muscles can leave limbs in poor position for long periods of time.
Although these complications usually occur shortly after the polio crisis, some people may experience sequelae a few years later, such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, excessive fatigue, and joint pain.
The best way to avoid these sequelae is to avoid the disease and therefore the child should be vaccinated against the disease and avoid consumption of contaminated food or water, for example.Learn more about other treatments that help prevent polio.
Physical therapy can be performed in all cases of polio, however, it is most important when the infection affects the brain or spinal cord, as there is an increased risk of paralysis in various muscles of the body.
In these cases, physical therapy is always performed during treatment with exercises that help restore strength to the affected muscles, which can reduce the severity of the sequelae.