Cytology presentation by rachita Guptaji

Cytology

1. OVERVIEW OF EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES: POLIO Presented by Garima Sahay and Ratnpriya B.Sc. (Hons) Biotechnology Semester: III

2. INTRODUCTION Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the poliovirus. Primarily affects young children but can also infect unvaccinated adults, causing irreversible paralysis in some cases. The disease is transmitted mainly through the fecal-oral route. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin developed the inactivated and oral polio vaccines, respectively, which have been crucial in controlling the disease. Global immunization efforts, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), have drastically reduced the incidence of polio, with the disease now remaining endemic in only a few countries.

3. TRANSMISSION Primarily spreads through the fecal-oral route via contaminated food and water. Can also spread through oral-oral transmission, especially in areas with poor sanitation. Virus multiplies in the intestines and invade the nervous system after entering the body through the mouth. Infected individuals can shed the virus in their feces, contaminating the environment. Asymptomatic carriers can unknowingly transmit the virus to others.

4. SYMPTOMS Asymptomatic (95% of cases) : Most infected individuals show no symptoms. Abortive Polio( About 4-8%) : Mild illness with symptoms like fever, fatigue, headache, sore throat, and gastrointestinal issues. Non-paralytic Polio : Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. Paralytic Polio (less than 1% of cases) : Causes muscle weakness, acute flaccid paralysis, and can affect limbs asymmetrically. Post-Polio Syndrome : Affects polio survivors' years after recovery, causing muscle weakness, fatigue, and joint pain.

5. DIAGNOSIS Initial diagnosis often begins with evaluation of symptoms such as fever, fatigue, stiffness in the neck, pain in limbs, etc. Polio is diagnosed via lab tests which range from stool samples to bodily fluid samples such as CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid). The virus can be found initially in a throat sample only during the first week of illness hence making it an unreliable source for accurate diagnosis. PCR is used to detect poliovirus in samples as it is highly sensitive.

6. TREATMENT Although Polio type II and Polio type III are globally eradicated, Polio type I exists and at present is incurable. Paralytic polio symptoms are often elevated by receiving optimal physical therapy. Mechanical Ventilation is known to help ease breathing in weakened or paralyzed muscles. It is recommended to get ample bed rest, pain relievers, drink fluids and use heat packs to relieve muscle aches.

7. PREVENTION The best way to prevent polio is to get timely vaccinations. There are mainly two types of polio vaccines: live attenuated and inactive. The live attenuated vaccine is used in regions where polio hasn’t been eradicated. It contains the live poliovirus (either one, two or all three variations) that has been weakened. This generates an immune response and in turn enhances one's immunity for the disease. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) contains poliovirus that has been killed. It contains inactive versions of polio types 1,2 and 3. It is important to note that if you’re immune to only one type of poliovirus it is possible to acquire either of the other two types.