Post-polio syndrome

From IDWiki

Background

  • May also be referred to as late onset polio symptoms, and overlaps with post-polio muscular dysfunction and post-polio muscular atrophy

Epidemiology

  • Occurs in 15 to 80% of patients with previous polio

Clinical Manifestations

  • Musculoskeletal:
    • Fatigue and decreased endurance
    • Increased skeletal deformities, such as scoliosis, causing deterioration in functioning
    • Joint pain
  • New muscle weakness and atrophy
    • New muscle weakness (may be in muscles originally affected or in those originally spared)
    • New muscular atrophy
    • Occasional pain and fasciculations
    • New bulbar, respiratory, or sleep difficulties

Diagnostic Criteria

Halstead Criteria

  • First described in 19851 and updated in 19912
  • Requires all of the following:
    • Confirmed history of polio.
    • Partial or fairly complete neurological and functional recovery after the acute episode.
    • Period of at least 15 years with neurological and functional stability.
    • Gradual or abrupt onset of new neurogenic weakness.
    • Two or more of the following health problems occurring after the stable period:
      • Extensive fatigue
      • Muscle and/or joint pain
      • New weakness in muscles previously affected or unaffected
      • New muscle atrophy
      • Functional loss
      • Cold intolerance
    • No other medical explanation found

Further Reading

References

  1. ^ PMID3867865 
  2. ^ PMID1758788