Chirping in with Information about the Poliovirus!

🐦 Polio is a virus that affects the nervous system. It can cause muscle weakness, and in some cases, permanent paralysis. While some people recover, others may be left with long-term disability. In rare cases, polio can be deadly.

🐦 Polio is no longer common in the United States, but a case was reported in New York State as recently as 2022. The virus still circulates in some other countries and can travel.

🐦 Polio spreads through contact with stool or saliva from someone who has been infected. It can also spread through contaminated hands, water, or surfaces. It spreads most easily in places where young children are in close contact.

🐦 Most children with polio do not have symptoms. Others may feel like they have a stomach virus, with fever, sore throat, tiredness, or nausea. In rare but serious cases, polio can damage nerves and cause paralysis, usually in the legs.

🐦 In the United States, children receive IPV, the inactivated polio vaccine. It's a shot in the arm or leg, given more than once over early childhood. Your pediatrician will explain the timing that fits your child.

🐦 Every family is different. Your pediatrician can tell you what makes sense for your child, and what to watch for.