Poliomyelitis - Treatment

Treatment of Polio

Polio has no cure. Supportive care like physiotherapy and, mechanical breathing, enables better control of symptoms.

Drugs cannot destroy the poliovirus hence a complete cure is not feasible once infection has set in. Hence, the goal of the treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms. Supportive care for polio is provided based on the symptoms. The treatment for patients with minor poliomyelitis generally focuses on increasing their comfort through bed rest and medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control fever and muscle aches.

Physiotherapy is carried out to regain mobility for muscles in case of paralysis.If the patient encounters breathing difficulty, mechanical breathing through tracheostomy tubes or artificial ventilator facilitates breathing.

Urinary tract infections are treated using antibiotics.