It is very important to be cautious about the health of children. The risk of diseases can be reduced by taking care of their food and vaccines. Let us know what things to keep in mind to prevent polio
The vaccine card of the child is prepared as soon as he is born. From taking care of the newborn to getting him medicines and vaccines on time is the priority of the parents. One of these vaccines is the polio vaccine, which is given to the child in the form of drops or vaccine. Meanwhile, a case of polio has been reported in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya (polio in India) It has come to light. People are worried after symptoms of polio were found in a two year old child.
The Pulse Polio Program was started in India in 1995. Its purpose was to give oral polio vaccine doses to all children aged five years and below to eradicate polio. Under the program, children are given medicine by going door to door.
What is the whole matter (Rare Polio case in Meghalaya)
A case of polio was found in a two-year-old child in a village located some distance away from West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. After examination at Goalpara Hospital in Assam, acute flaccid paralysis has been confirmed in the child. After this, health officials have ordered an investigation. The team of doctors has collected samples and sent them for examination.
When was India declared polio free (Pulse polio programme in India)
India received polio-free certification from the World Health Organization on 27 March 2014. Earlier, the last case of polio was reported in Howrah, West Bengal on 13 January 2011. Pulse polio immunization program was started in India in 1995 to prevent polio. At that time, about 60 percent of the world’s polio cases were in India.
What is polio and how does it spread?
Regarding this, pediatrician Dr Abhishek Nair explains that polio is spread through a virus. This virus is found in the stool of a child suffering from this problem. This virus infects a child when he comes in contact with stool or contaminated water.
Read this also
After entering the body, this virus damages the nerve that increases sensation in the body. Children below the age of seven years are at risk of this problem. But after that, the immune system of children becomes strong, due to which children are not at risk of polio.
Two types of vaccines are being used to protect children from the risk of polio. The first is the oral vaccine, in which children are given polio drops. The second is the polio vaccine, which reduces the risk of polio virus in children by 99 percent.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 200 people suffer from permanent paralysis. This poses a risk of paralysis in the spinal cord and brain stem. This causes muscle pain and severe cramps. This increases the problem of joint weakness, difficulty in breathing, depression and insomnia.
What is the first stage of polio?
Symptoms of polio appear 3 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. This stage is called the pre-paralytic stage. In such a situation, the child starts complaining of fatigue, fever, vomiting and headache. This is also called the acute stage, in which stiffness is felt in the neck and autonomic dysfunction is faced.
What can be the initial symptoms of polio?
1. High fever
Children suffer from fever due to many reasons. Children suffering from polio get fever frequently. A high fever indicates polio.
2. Feeling tired
Despite playing games all day, children are full of energy. But after suffering from this problem, children feel tired and weak. Due to this, children stop playing and jumping.
3. Complaint of headache
The effect of polio problem caused by the virus starts showing on the nerves. This starts affecting the spine and brain stem. Due to this, the person has trouble moving and has to face headaches.
4. Increase in muscle stiffness
Children who are affected by polio have to face muscle weakness. This leads to paralysis of the legs. The weakness in the legs increases and the muscles shrink. Apart from this, pain and stiffness in the neck starts increasing.
When polio medicine is given to children (When polio medicine given to children)
- Polio medicine is first given to a 2-month-old child. With the first shot, the child’s immune system starts becoming stronger.
- To protect the newborn from this disease, the second polio shot is given at the age of 4 months. So that the child can be saved from the symptoms of this problem.
- After that, the child is given the third dose of polio between 6 and 18 months. It can be given in the form of medicine or vaccine.
- Finally, a booster dose of polio is given to a child aged 4 to 6 years. This reduces the risk of this disease in the child and the child’s body strengthens its immune system.
Image: Shutterstock
It is important to take care of these things to prevent polio (Tips to prevent polio)
- This problem can be prevented by giving polio medicine or vaccine to the child on time.
- One should avoid drinking dirty water. Actually, the virus can enter the child’s body through contaminated water. In such a situation, drink clean or boiled water.
- Take care of cleanliness. Staying close to garbage and dirt increases the chances of the child getting affected by the virus.
- Maintain hand hygiene. Bathe children daily and keep their hands clean. Apart from this, keep the toys, swings, cycles and other items used by them clean.
- To boost the immune system of the child, breast milk must be given. This helps in formation of antibodies in the child, which strengthens the immune system.
Also read – Female Fighter: This is Kanchan Singh Chauhan who turns every difficulty into success