Katrina C.

Bausa

POLIOMYELITIS

Definition:

• It is an acute infection disease caused by the invasion of the central nervous

system by a minute filterable virus.

• Also known as: infantile disease

• It is caused by an enterovirus that affects the muscles that can cause

muscular paralysis.

Causative agent:

• Poliovirus/Enterovirus

Risk Factors:

• Lack of immunization against polio

• Exposure to polio virus

• Recent or previous tonsillectomy

Manifestation:

• Abortive

o Throat and intestines are infected

 Fever

 Malaise

 Uneasiness

 Sore throat

 Inflamed pharynx

 Headache

 Anorexia

 Vomiting

 Abdominal pain
 • Non-paralytic

o Muscle stiffness/pain on neck, arms, legs, abdomen and at the back

• Paralytic

o Initial course is similar to non-paralytic type followed by recovery and

signs of central nervous system paralysis.

 Pain

 Hyperesthesia and irritability

 Loss of tendon reflexes

 Paralysis

Nursing Management:

• Maintain complete bed rest.

• Maintain body alignment and prevent contractures; use footboard.

• Observe for respiratory paralysis (difficulty of talking, ineffective cough,

inability to hold breath, shallow and rapid respiration.)

• Have tracheostomy tray at bedside.

• Prevent over stretching of paralyzed muscle.

• Apply moist hot packs over affected muscles for 15-20 minutes every 2-4
hours.

• Active and passive ROM

• Nasal and oral hygiene

Medical-Surgical management:

• Tendon transplantation

o Can restore function to a partially paralyzed extremity.

• Release of contracture

• Arthrodesis

o A surgical procedure in which the joints are fused into one so as to

relieve pain, improve alignment of joints and restore skeletal stability.
Pharmacological interventions:

• Analgesics

o To reduce pain in the muscles, headache.

• Mild sedatives

o To relieve anxiety and promote rest

• Vaccines/OPV

o Provide active immunity against poliovirus

 POLIOMYE
LITIS

Lack of immunization to

Poor Feco-Oral
hygiene

Polio virus
Children ↓ 5
enters the
y/o
mouth
Virus
proliferates in
intestinal

Localization of Virus attaches

Lymph virus in the to cell
nodes various tissues

↓Productio Disseminati
n of lymph on occurs in
the CNS

↓WBC
Damage to
Infection Fever Reddish gray matter
and swollen in the
gray matter ventral
Swelling of spinal cord
lymph
nodes: Damage to
tonsils motor
Tonsillitis neurons
↓ Transmission of
Weakness
impulses to the
muscles