Polio Patients in Northern Italy, a 50 Year Follow-up

Overview

Journal Open Neurol J

Publisher Bentham Open

Specialty Neurology

Date 2016 Sep 22

PMID 27651845

Citations 2

Authors

L Bertolasi

A Danese

S Monaco

M Turri

K Borg

L Werhagen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Poliomyelitis was before the immunization an important medical problem. Nowadays polio prior patients (PP) suffer from polio sequelae or have developed post-polio-syndrome (PPS) with increasing paresis, pain and fatigue.

Objectives: To analyze the medical situation 50 years after acute polio. The degree of paresis was compared between the recovery 1952-1961 and 2012.The prevalence of patients fulfilling the criteria for PPS was estimated.

Method: The study was performed in Italy. Included were PP with rehabilitation after acute polio 1952-1961 and in 2012. During the years PP underwent yearly evaluation. A thorough neurological examination was performed in 2012. A telephone interview with questions concerning pain, paresis, fatigue, walking aids and concomitant diseases was performed in 2012. The patients were divided in two groups, if they fulfilled the criteria for PPS or not.

Results: Included were 67(94%) patients receiving rehabilitation after acute poliomyelitis and 2012. 78% were walkers, half of the PPS used wheelchair. Eight out of ten suffered from pain. Four out of ten fulfilled the PPS criteria. Pain was slightly more common in PPS.

Conclusion: Female gender, fatigue and wheelchair dependency were significantly more common in PPS while pain was common in both groups.

Citing Articles

Physical activity and quality of life predictors among university students with polio in India: A cross-sectional study.

Ganesh G, Marwah D, Punyal S, Gupta S J Clin Transl Res. 2021; 6(3):71-80.

PMID: 33426356 PMC: 7790500.

Post-polio Syndrome: More Than Just a Lower Motor Neuron Disease.

Shing S, Chipika R, Finegan E, Murray D, Hardiman O, Bede P Front Neurol. 2019; 10:773.

PMID: 31379723 PMC: 6646725. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00773.

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