WHAT IS POST POLIO SYNDROME
Post Polio Syndrome is a poorly understood condition that can affect people who have had polio in the past.
Polio is a viral infection that used to be common in the UK, but is now rare.
Most people who had Polio would have fought off the infection without even realising they were infected.
Some people with Polio would have had paralysis, muscle weakness and shrinking of the muscles. But usually, these problems would have either gone away over the following weeks or months, or remained the same for years afterwards.
Post Polio Syndrome is where some of these symptoms return or get worse many years or decades after the original polio infection.
SYMPTOMS OF POST POLIO SYNDROME
Post Polio Syndrome can include a wide range of symptoms that develop gradually over time, including:
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persistent fatigue (extreme tiredness)
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muscle weakness
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shrinking muscles
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muscle and joint pain
The condition can have a significant impact on everyday life, making it very difficult to get around and carry out certain tasks and activities. The symptoms tend to get gradually worse over many years, but this happens very slowly and treatment may help slow it down further.
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.
WHO'S AFFECTED
Post Polio Syndrome only affects people who've had polio. It usually develops 15 to 40 years after the infection.
The condition has become more common in the UK in recent years, because of the high number of Polio cases that occurred during the 1940s and 1950s, before routine vaccination was introduced. It's estimated that there are around 120,000 people living in the UK who survived Polio when they were younger. Some of these have, or will develop, Post Polio Syndrome.
It's not known exactly how many Polio survivors are or will be affected by Post Polio Syndrome. Estimates vary from as low as 15% to as high as 80%.
WHAT CAUSES POST-POLIO SYNDROME?
The exact cause of post Polio Syndrome is unclear. It's not known whether anything can be done to prevent it.
The leading theory is that it's the result of the gradual deterioration of nerve cells in the spinal cord (motor neurones) that were damaged by the Polio virus. This would explain why the condition can take years to appear.
Post Polio Syndrome isn't contagious. The theory that the Polio virus may lie dormant in your body, causing Post Polio Syndrome when it becomes reactivated at a later stage, has been disproven.
It's not clear why only some people who've had polio develop Post Polio Syndrome. Those who had severe Polio when they were younger may be more likely to develop the condition.
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BOOK A FELLOWSHIP ACCREDITED SPEAKER
If you are looking for a insightful, thought provoking and unique speaker for your group, club or business event why not book on of our Fellowship accredited speakers and ensure your guests attend a event that leaves a lasting impression.
Colin Powell
At just six months old Colins parents took him to the
doctor concerned he was unwell. The doctor told
them he was teething, but his mum noticed soon
after that he couldn’t lift his legs and after returning
to the doctor was diagnosed with Polio. The rest of
his childhood saw him in and out of hospital having
a number of extreme and invasive surgeries with the
objective of improving his quality of life. Colin's
lifelong battle with Polio has seen him permanently
rely on a Wheelchair, respiratory aids and now
increasing difficulties brought on by Post Polio
Syndrome (PPS). Over the decades he has
become ingrained in the fight for disability
rights and a vocal supporter of The British Polio
Fellowship and our Rotary liaison ambassador.
“I joined Rotary 12 years and quickly discovered
that although Rotarians had been focused on the
End Polio Now campaign for a number of years
previously, the majority had never met or heard the
life story of a polio survivor. I soon got invited to speak at District Conferences and Assemblies, Foundation and Paul Harris gathering. This snowballed into being invited to participate in a number of meetings held in Committee Rooms within The Houses of Parliament alongside representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF. I’ve also participated in presenting petitions to HM Government resulting in them pledging to fund £400 million for polio vaccines and medical personnel to inject young children in poorer countries throughout the World.
I also had the honour and privilege of meeting Bill Gates the Philanthropist ex-Boss of Microsoft who thanked me for all my advocacy work for global eradication. More recently during lockdown I’ve focussed on speaking to Rotary Clubs via Zoom to both raising awareness on global polio eradication coupled with highlighting polio survivors for whom the polio vaccine arrived too late.” – Colin Powell
Colin offers an incredible insight into the life of a Polio survivor and boast a wealth of knowledge that will truly change your perspective of those living with the effects of Polio and PPS. Those who have attended one of his talks have always had nothing but positive feedback.
“I’ll be totally honest with you and tell you that your talk has been the most captivating and impactful speaker event to date You are living life as it was intended to be lived, to educate, inspire and bring positive change to this world and leave a message that forms future generations to come - especially once Polio is eradicated“
“Lovely to hear you speak, you spoke so well and it shows just how much can be achieved with such grit and determination. Would have been so easy for you to have just given up so early but you fought on and have really achieved such a huge amount that you can be truly proud of.”
“Many thanks for your powerful and thought provoking talk yesterday. It really was a wake-up call to realise that both at a club and a global level Rotary has paid little attention to the needs of polio survivors, despite the awareness it has of the awful effects of the disease. “
If you would like to book Colin to speak at one of your speaker events please contact him at talkpolio@powellnet.co.uk.
