Patient's question:
My nephew, who was seven days and four days old, noticed that he was walking less stable than before. After two more days, he felt that one of his legs was walking in a swaying manner, without any other symptoms. He had no unusual reactions during dinner or play. In our area, when children get this kind of disease, they go to a nearby doctor. How can it be confirmed?Doctor's answer:
Currently, it is not supported to consider polio based solely on a child's temporary leg call. Polio is a disease caused by the invasion of the central nervous system's motor neurons by the poliovirus, which may lead to nerve cell damage and subsequent limb paralysis. It can also occur without collapse. The diagnosis of polio is made through serological tests and the detection of positive virus in stool. The main manifestations of post-polio syndrome include: muscle atrophy and weakness in limbs, limb deformities, difficulty in upper and lower limb movement, joint instability, and unequal limb length on both sides. For example, in the case of lower limbs, the affected limb is smaller, and the child walks with a limp.