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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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The British Polio Fellowship
- Dec 30, 2023
- 1 min read

Gordon Richardson recognised in King's New Year Honours

Updated: Jan 2

Chair of The British Polio Fellowship, Dr Gordon Richardson, has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours.

Gordon has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to disability access (in the city of Bristol).

He is Treasurer of the Bristol Walking Alliance and was instrumental in its establishment. The Alliance is a consortium of organisations and individuals, and campaigns to improve the walking environment across Bristol, for example for disabled people.

Responding to the news of Gordon's honour, Kripen Dhrona Chief Executive Officer of the British Polio Fellowship (BPF) said:

“Everyone at the Fellowship is absolutely delighted that Gordon's achievements are recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours.

“We congratulate Gordon on his work with the Alliance and the impact it has made to disabled people moving around Bristol; introducing much needed cycle lanes, dropped pavements and traffic calming measures.”

As well as being Chair of the British Polio Fellowship, supporting people affected by polio and Post-Polio-Syndrome, Gordon is the Co-Chair of not-for profit organisation Bristol Disability Equality Forum, which provides a voice for disabled people. Additionally, he is serving as a Disability Commissioner for Bristol, championing the rights of disabled people, and enabling them to influence decision-making within the city.

Treasurer of Bristol West Diabetes Support Network, Gordon also received a commendation from the Lord Mayor of Bristol in 2016 for his 15 years of service as a pre-school governor and the representative for nursery schools on the Bristol Schools Forum.

In 2023, Dr Gordon Richardson was presented with a degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Bristol.

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