Poliomyelitis is an acute infectious disease in children that affects the gray matter of the spinal cord. It becomes the cause of pathologies of the nervous system, but timely vaccination will help prevent infection.
In this world, a newborn is awaited not only by pleasant surprises, but also by various diseases. That is why some vaccinations are given on the first day of a child's life, others later. All of them are necessary for the baby to protect his body from various diseases, such as polio.
What is polio?
Infantile spinal paralysis or polio occurs in children 5 months to 6 years of age. This is an infectious disease that is transmitted by airborne droplets, through unwashed hands and food, with the help of insects.
The causative agent of the disease is the poliovirus hominis virus, which belongs to the group of intestinal viruses. He can be in the external environment for a long time, maintaining his vital abilities. It tolerates cold and heat well, is not afraid of freezing and drying.
The virus infects nerve motor cells and the spinal cord. As a result, the child has paralysis of certain muscle groups, they can atrophy. As a result, the child becomes disabled. You can protect yourself from the disease with a course of vaccinations.
In some cases, the disease progresses without any symptoms, and the body copes with polio on its own. Such a person becomes a carrier of the disease, although he himself does not know about it.
Polio vaccination schedule
Polio vaccination is included in the main child vaccination schedule in many countries. In Russia and Ukraine, it is done to a child 4 times, in the first year of life:
1. At 3 months
2. At 4 months
3. At 5 months
4. At 6 months.
Revaccination is carried out at the age of one and a half years, at 20 months and at 14 years.
There are 2 types of vaccines: live oral and non-live, inactivated, which is injected with a syringe into muscle tissue.
A live vaccine activates the immunity of the mucous membranes, that is, it protects the pathways of possible infection. The undead contributes to the development of systemic defense, that is, general immunity.
The first 4 vaccinations are done with non-living cultures, since when using drops there is a possibility of developing vaccine-associated poliomyelitis. This is mainly observed in children with a deficiency of the immune system.
For revaccination, a live vaccine is used. This helps to activate both local and general immunity, which means, completely protect the child. It is forbidden to use oral drops for children diagnosed with HIV and having parents with such a disease, as well as for babies with primary immunodeficiency who are constantly ill.
Refusal to vaccinate or not vaccinated at the right time can cause a baby to become infected with a "wild" strain of poliomyelitis. This type of disease appeared in 2010. Having recovered from any kind of polio, a child can remain disabled for the rest of his life.
