What is the Difference Between Polio and Paralysis

The key difference between polio and paralysis is that polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that mainly affects the nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem, while paralysis is the loss of the ability to move some or all of the body by different causes such as stroke, spinal injury, autoimmune diseases, infections, etc.

Paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with poliovirus infection. This can even lead to permanent disability and death. Approximately 2 and 10 out of 100 people who get paralysis due to poliovirus infection normally die. This is because the virus affects the muscle that helps these people breathe.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Polio 
3. What is Paralysis
4. Similarities – Polio and Paralysis
5. Polio vs Paralysis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Polio vs Paralysis

 What is Polio?

Polio is a highly infectious disease that is caused by a virus (poliovirus). It mainly affects the nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. Some people get flu-like symptoms such as high temperature, extreme tiredness, headaches, being sick, a stiff neck, and muscle pain. A few people get very serious symptoms like meningitis and paralysis. Moreover, post-polio syndrome causes different symptoms such as progressive muscle or joint pain, fatigue, muscle wasting, problems in breathing or swallowing, sleep-related breathing disorders, and lowered tolerance to cold temperatures. There are two types of polioviruses that cause polio: wild-type poliovirus and vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). Polio mainly affects children. The complications may involve permanent paralysis, muscle shortening that causes deformed bones and joints, chronic pain, and post-polio syndrome.

Polio can be diagnosed through physical examinations, laboratory testing of stool samples, throat samples, and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). Furthermore, treatment options for polio may include bed rest, pain relievers, hot moist packs to control muscle pain, portable ventilators to aid breathing, physical therapy exercises, splints, and other devices to encourage good position and administration of vaccines for children.

What is Paralysis?

Paralysis is the loss of ability to move some or all of the body caused by different causes such as stroke, spinal injury, autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barré syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis, other diseases like cerebral palsy, infections like meningitis, encephalitis, polio, spina bifida, brain tumors, and inherited disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy, etc. The most common symptom of paralysis is the loss of muscle function in one or more parts of the human body. The other main symptoms may include numbness or pain in the affected muscles, muscle weakness, visible signs of muscle loss (muscle atrophy), stiffness, and involuntary spasms or twitches.

Moreover, paralysis can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan, and myelogram. Furthermore, available treatments for paralysis may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, mobility devices such as braces, walkers, and wheelchairs, medications, surgical amputation, nerve transfer surgery, and emotional and social support.

What are the Similarities Between Polio and Paralysis?

• Polio and paralysis are two medical conditions that cause nervous system problems.
• Paralysis is the most severe symptom that is associated with poliovirus infection.
• Both medical conditions can cause complications.
• They can be diagnosed through physical and clinical evaluation.
• They are treated mainly through supportive therapy.

What is the Difference Between Polio and Paralysis?

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that mainly affects the nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem, while paralysis is the inability to move some or all of the body due to causes such as stroke, spinal injury, autoimmune diseases, and infections. Thus, this is the key difference between polio and paralysis. Furthermore, the risk factors for polio include not being immunized, traveling to places where polio is endemic, living with someone infected with polio, having weakened immunity, and being pregnant. On the other hand, the risk factors for paralysis include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking.

The below infographic presents the differences between polio and paralysis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Polio vs Paralysis

Polio and paralysis are two medical conditions that cause problems in the nervous system. Polio and paralysis are two related medical conditions. This is because paralysis is the most severe symptom associated with poliovirus infection. However, polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It mainly affects the nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. Paralysis is the loss of ability to move some or all of the body due to causes such as stroke, spinal injury, autoimmune diseases, infections, etc. So, this summarizes the difference between polio and paralysis.

Reference:

1. “Polio.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Paralysis.” NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Polio vaccination a response of a recent polio outbreak in the Horn of Africa” By UNICEF Ethiopia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Child crippled by infantile paralysis” (Public Domain) NARA & DVIDS Public Domain Archive.