Is post-polio syndrome progressive?

Key points about post-polio syndrome PPS is a disorder that happens in as many as half of people many years after they had polio. The symptoms include progressive muscle weakness, pain in the muscles and joints, and tiredness. Some people with PPS may eventually need a machine to help with breathing.

How long does post-polio syndrome last?

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is an infectious viral disease that can strike at any age and affects a person’s nervous system. Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a non-contagious condition that can affect polio survivors usually 15 to 40 years after recovery from polio.

Can you recover from post-polio syndrome?

There’s currently no cure for post-polio syndrome, so treatment focuses on helping you manage your symptoms and improving your quality of life. People with the condition are often treated by a team of different healthcare professionals working together. This is known as a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Is post-polio syndrome life threatening?

Post-polio syndrome is rarely life-threatening, although some people develop breathing and swallowing difficulties that can lead to serious problems, such as chest infections. Read more about the symptoms of post-polio syndrome and diagnosing post-polio syndrome.

Can post-polio cause death?

Post-polio syndrome refers to a cluster of potentially disabling signs and symptoms that appear decades — an average of 30 to 40 years — after the initial polio illness. Polio once resulted in paralysis and death.

How many polio survivors are still alive?

The World Health Organization estimates that 10 to 20 million polio survivors are alive worldwide, and some estimates suggest that 4 to 8 million of them may get PPS.

What kind of doctor do you see for post polio syndrome?

Pulmonologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the lungs and respiratory system. Because of the variety of clinical problems encountered, they have knowledge of internal medicine. They are also known as respiratory physicians and respirologists.

Does post polio syndrome affect brain?

Research that we began in 1993 on the post-polio brain has documented damage done by the original poliovirus infection that prevents survivors from activating their brains and thereby causes fatigue and brain brownout. There are three new studies that support our findings.

What famous person had polio?

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. Not only did he serve an unprecedented four terms in office, but he was also the first president with a significant physical disability. FDR was diagnosed with infantile paralysis, better known as polio, in 1921, at the age of 39.