Polio can be treated in four ways

Clinically, polio can easily leave serious sequelae in children. Generally speaking, after parents discover that their children have polio, they can use the following four methods to treat them.

1. Bed rest

The patient should stay in bed until the fever subsides for 1 week, be isolated for 40 days, and avoid physical activity for at least 2 weeks thereafter. When lying in bed, use a footrest to keep your feet and calves at a correct angle to facilitate functional recovery.

2. Symptomatic treatment

Antipyretics, analgesics and sedatives can be used to relieve systemic muscle spasms, discomfort and pain; apply hot compresses every 2 to 4 hours for 15 to 30 minutes each time; hot baths are also effective, especially for young children, and have a synergistic effect when used in combination with analgesics; if conditions permit, intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin 400 mg/(kg·day) can be used for 2 to 3 consecutive days to alleviate the condition. Interferon can be used in the early stage, 1 million U/d, intramuscular injection, 14 days as a course of treatment; slight passive exercise can avoid deformity.

3. Paralysis

(1) Correct posture: The patient's body should be in a straight line when lying in bed, with the knees slightly bent. The hips and spine can be straightened with a board or sandbag, and the ankle joint should be at 90 degrees. Perform active and passive exercises as soon as the pain disappears to avoid bone deformities.

(2) Proper nutrition: A nutritious diet and plenty of water should be provided. If sweating is caused by high ambient temperature or hot compresses, sodium salt should be supplemented. In case of anorexia, a gastric tube can be used to ensure food and water intake.

(3) Drug treatment: drugs that promote nerve conduction function, such as dibazole, galantamine, vitamin B12, etc.; for secondary infection, appropriate antibiotics are used for treatment.

(4) Bulbar paralysis: ① Keep the airway open: use a low head position (raise the bed legs to 20° to 25°) to prevent inhalation of saliva, food, vomit, etc. Avoid gastric tube feeding in the first few days and use intravenous nutrition; ② Measure blood pressure twice a day. If hypertensive encephalopathy occurs, it should be treated promptly; ③ Those with vocal cord paralysis and respiratory muscle paralysis require tracheotomy, and those with impaired ventilation require mechanical assisted breathing.

4. Recovery period and sequelae period

Start active and passive exercises early to prevent muscle atrophy. Acupuncture, massage and physical therapy can also be used to promote functional recovery, and severe limb deformities can be corrected surgically.