Why are we are still giving children the polio vaccine? Did you ever ask if anyone conversely becomes infected with that virus from half a center ago?  Many people have forgotten about infantile paralysis, which was more commonly called polio. Is that really a good thing?  Children in our Western civilization can tell you exactly how to create a PowerPoint presentation, text message, download all kinds of games and applications from the Internet, but most of them would be hard pressed to explain what polio is. Everyone knows that we are protected against this dreadful disease because we are given a vaccine during our early years. It’s gone isn’t it?  In my opinion, as a polio survivor, the lack of knowledge about this deadly and crippling virus is both good and bad.

Baby receiving polio vaccine

It appears to be a part of human behavior to become careless, disinterested, and apathetic about occurrences such as natural disasters, diseases, and crimes against humanity that have not directly affected our lives or the lives of people we know. What becomes history, while important to know, does not seem to be something many of us guard against.  Let’s consider the power of nature for a moment. We live in an area that has seen parts of our beautiful country and other countries devastated by nature in the past several years. Lives have been lost, and we have endured absolute heartbreak. Human nature lets of forget as we move through life . We tend to believe that somehow we are never going to experience the wrath of a violent storm again as years pass, and we get a reprieve from old man weather.  We don’t take precautions and walk around believing that it’s going to happen somewhere else in the world.

It’s exactly the same with disease. Some of us actually have become so paranoid about vaccinations that we opt not to immunize our children fearing a detrimental effect and a possible onset of autism. We believe that since some of these awful viruses have not occurred in our lifetime, they are gone for good. People everywhere must not let their guard down. A virus does not go away. It continues to exist, usually in the same places it has always been. What an unpleasant reality that can is. The only defense that we have to protect ourselves against the return of a disease like polio, is through medical expertise and immunization. Our attitude towards viruses and infections that have been controlled and contained by the profession are strangely similar to our thoughts regarding the wrath nature can unlash upon the lands we love. We forget, until we are shocked back into reality by an event.

We cannot forget about polio until every single child on the planet has been immunized against it.

One thing very important fact to know, is that polio may return years later, and some people who survived the initial infection or did not know they had polio , because it had gone undiagnosed . Now that we are all living longer, many of us experience strange and curious symptoms that we can’t identify, such as unexplained weaknesses in our lower limbs, as well as difficulty sleeping, breathing, joint pain, poor balance and the ability to think clearly. Very often these complaints are viewed as neurotic by some of the younger physicians. Push them to run some tests that are non invasive, but will help to pin point your issues. Doctors often test us for chronic fatigue syndrome, shingles, MS, and other ailments such as fiber myalgia when we start experiencing a general weakening of our bodies. Seldom do doctor’s ask, “Do you think you could have possibly had polio as a child”? There is a special test that can be administered to see if you might be suffering from Post-Polio syndrome. One such test is called electromyogram. In addition, Nerve Conduction studies can also be preformed.

Please don’t dismiss my suggestion of pushing your family doctor to check the possibility that your problem may be PPS. The good news is that Post polio syndrome will not kill you. However, it must be managed, and the more knowledge you have the better able you will be to deal with it. Many of you might be questioning how it could be possible to have had polio and not known it. Polio is a disease that enters the body through the intestinal system. The symptoms at the onset could have been very mild and simply stated may have appeared to be more of a stomach virus than polio. Even the mildest case of polio can develop into an adult post polio syndrome. PPS usually begins to become evident between 20 and 50 years after the initial virus entered the body.

If you suspect you might have this problem, do not become stressed. There is a lot of support available throughout the United States. Right here in Boca Raton Florida, I belong to a PPS support group located at Spanish River Church 2400 NW 51 Street, Boca Raton (corner of Yamato Rd. and St. Andrews Blvd.) Sunset Room of Worship Center. Visit the website for the Boca Raton PPS group. They have a wonderful monthly publication packed full of information. In addition, please check out the National PPS website. They can help you find a group, physician, or physical therapist who can be of assistance.

There is a lot of help available and the population is filled with millions of us intermingled throughout the world. One thing we can do for mankind together is to guard against the return of this awful disease. You can help ensure every single child on this planet receives the polio vaccine. Check out the Rotary’s Polio Plus program.

Something’s should never be forgotten. A great resource for Post-Polio information can be found at; Richard Bruno, PhD is Chairperson of the International Post-Polio Task Force and PPS Institute. He may be reached for consultation at [email protected]