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
​
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
Member Stories
Our members share their stories about living with the late affects of polio and
Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)
John Baldwin
John Baldwin contracted polio aged 9, in February 1948, before a vaccine had been found. For quite some time John was left paralysed from the chest down and his memories of that time have never left him. Click here to read his polio story
Elizabeth Heard
Elizabeth tells the story of her mother, Margaret and how polio affected both their lives. Margaret Simmons (nee Garrard) contracted polio as a young woman and was paralysed from her chest and down her left side. Click here to read her polio story
Sheila Gray
Sheila never linked her health issues with her prior polio, until her son researched her symptoms on the internet. After a visit to the GP, who referred her to a consultant, she was finally diagnosed with post-polio syndrome. Click here to read her polio story
John Ault
John was five when he contracted polio after playing on the beach at Margate. His treatment was too little too late and today, he still sees many of the faces of those that didn't survive. A haunting reminder that visits him in the early hours. Click here to read his polio story
Verno
In April 1955 aged 22, Verno served as a Naval Officer crewing a Minesweeper to Southampton. After feeling unwell, he collapsed with a fever and was diagnosed with polio. He spent days in isolation but once his condition stabilised, he was introduced to a physiotherapist who helped him change his life. Click here to read his polio story
Michael Cassidy CBE
What does it mean to live with disability for 75 years? For Michael Cassidy, it began in the shadow of post-war polio epidemics – a childhood of hospitals, callipers, and resilience. Yet it became the foundation of a fulfilling life in law, the City of London, and public service. Click here to read his polio story
Paul Hovell
Paul contracted polio as a baby, leaving lasting damage to his right side. He faced bullying and missed much of his schooling, leaving at 15 unable to read or write, but went on to build a 30-year career as a mechanic and later learned to read and write. Now aged 70, he shares his story of resilience in the face of lifelong challenges. Click here to read his polio story