Selasa 16 Jan 2024 21:59 WIB

UGM Professor Reveals Danger of Polio in Children

Paralysis due to polio is permanent and cannot be treated.

Rep: Febrianto Adi Saputro/ Red: Erdy Nasrul
Polio vaccination in children in Tanjungsari village, Manisrenggo, Klaten, Monday (15/1/2024).
Foto: Republika/Alfian Choir
Polio vaccination in children in Tanjungsari village, Manisrenggo, Klaten, Monday (15/1/2024).

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SLEMAN -- Professor of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FK-KMK) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Mei Neni Sitaresmi explained a number of dangers of polio for children. According to him, polio is a serious health problem because polio is easily contagious.

He explained the polio virus enters the digestive system, it can be through the hands, food, drink or cutlery used. According to him, when one child is found to have confirmed polio, there could be 100 children in the vicinity who are infected but have no symptoms.

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However, even if they do not cause symptoms, they can still transmit the polio virus to other children. Mei explains that if polio causes symptoms, then the child will experience symptoms including fever, joint pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Polio also affects children under five years of age. However, it can also affect children over five years old if their immunization history is incomplete.

In addition, in theory, polio can also be suffered by adults. However, this is very rare because in adults resistance has been established to fight the polio virus. May also said polio can cause paralysis.

“This paralysis due to polio is permanent,” May said in her caption.

According to May, this paralysis due to polio is not treatable. What can be done is physiotherapy to reduce the effects of such paralysis and prevent the body from shrinking.

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