Polio treatment should always be guided by the pediatrician, in the case of the child, or by the general practitioner, in the case of the adult. However, it can be done at home and is usually started with absolute rest, since the disease causes severe muscle pain, and there is no antivirus capable of eliminating the organism responsible for the infection.
In addition to rest, it is also advisable to provide good hydration and start using medications, indicated by the doctor, to relieve the symptoms that cause more discomfort:
- Ibuprofen or Diclofenac: are anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce fever and muscle pain; Paracetamol: it is an analgesic that relieves headache and general malaise; Amoxicillin or Penicillin: these are antibiotics that help fight other infections that may arise, such as pneumonia or urinary tract infection.
In the most severe cases, where the infection causes difficulty in breathing, with signs such as rapid breathing or blue fingertips and lips, it is necessary to go quickly to the hospital, as it may be necessary to stay in hospital to continuously use an oxygen mask or a ventilator, until the symptoms improve.
In addition to the treatment recommended by the doctor, it is also possible to use hot compresses to improve muscle movement and relieve muscle pain. See how to prepare 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.
Possible sequelae
The main sequel to polio is the appearance of paralysis, especially in the muscles of the legs and arms, in children in whom the infection has reached the brain or spinal cord. However, deformities in the joints can also arise, as the difficulty in moving the muscles can leave the limbs poorly positioned for long periods of time.
Although these complications usually arise shortly after the polio crisis, there are people who may experience sequelae only a few years later, including difficulty in swallowing or breathing, excessive tiredness 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 the consumption of contaminated water or food, for example. See what other cares that help prevent polio.
When physiotherapy is needed
Physiotherapy can be done in all cases of polio, however, it is more important when the infection affects the brain or spinal cord, as there is a greater risk of paralysis in several muscles of the body.
In these cases, physiotherapy is still performed during treatment with exercises that help to restore strength to the affected muscles, which may decrease the severity of the sequelae.
