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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:

persistent fatigue (extreme tiredness)
muscle weakness
shrinking muscles
muscle and joint pain
sleep apnoea

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.

Contacts us: 0800 043 1935
Email us: info@britishpolio.org.uk

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Eligible groups for the Covid-19 booster

The British Polio Fellowship

Aug 8, 20231 min read

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has today announced its advice on who will be eligible to receive a Covid-19 booster vaccine later this year.

The following groups will be eligible to have the COVID-19 booster vaccine:

Residents in a care home for older adults
All adults aged 65 years and over
Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
Frontline health and social care workers
Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression
Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults.

The aim is for the autumn vaccination programme to be completed, early December 2023 and offer the highest level of protection for the winter months.

Last years' programme which ended on 20 February 2023, delivered vaccines to around 73% of people aged 65 to 70 years in England and nearly 84% of those aged over 80.

If you have any questions about this years' booster vaccination programme, you are advised to speak to your GP or local healthcare professional.

The Green Book - COVID-19 chapter referred to above, can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1153300/Greenbook-chapter-14a-26April2023.pdf

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