Polio is a disease that cripples people. Polio is also known as  Poliomyelitis or Infantile Paralysis. Many people think that polio no longer exists around the world. But that isn't true.  Polio is still a problem for children in Afganistan, Egypt, India, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia.  Many organizations such as UNICEF are working to stop the spread of polio.

There are still cases of polio all around the world. There are different types of polio.  One of them is spinal polio. Spinal polio is the most common type of polio. This type of polio causes paralysis. This type of polio occurs when the virus attacks the nerves that control the lower part of the body. Another type of polio is called Bulbar paralysis. This type of polio is the most serious. This type of polio occurs when the disease attacks the nerve in the brainstem. Some these nerves control breathing and eating.
 
Polio enters the bloodstream through the nose or mouth. It travels though the intestines. Then the disease enters a nerve and multiplies, damaging or destroying the nerve.

Fortunately, polio is a disease that can be prevented.  There are two types of vaccines, a type of medicine, that prevent polio. The first one was made by Jonas E. Salk. This type of vaccine is taken by means of an injection. The other kind was discovered by Albert B. Sabin. This type of vaccine is taken through the mouth. People should be vaccinated early in life, when they are in the childhood years.  When you are given a vaccine it is also called an immunization.  If every child in the world were immunized against polio, we could eliminate the disease!
 
There has yet to be a drug that kills the polio virus once you have it. Rest in bed is really the best treatment for polio. Doctors use warm moist bandages to contract the muscles. After the patient is treated they must exercise to return to full strength. Polio is scary but doctors are finding out more on how to treat polio every day.

There was a man named Franklin Delano Roosevelt that had polio. This man was on a summer vacation. He was in his friend's boat and he fell out. The next morning he ached all over his body. He went for a swim hoping it would refresh him. He went inside to read the mail. After awhile of reading, he was shivering and he went up to bed. The next day he was in pain, but he still remained cheerful. A few days later he was shipped to the hospital with a case of polio. His case got worse after awhile until it was very severe. After more days in the hospital, he survived. After a few weeks of exercise, his muscles regained strength. He later became President of The United States. He is just one example of the many of people who survived polio.

Citations

Electronic Media

Schuelein, Marianne. "Poliomyelitis." World Book Online Reference Center.
http://www.worldbookonline.com/ar?/na/ar/co/ar437100.htm 
(November, 2003).

Patterson, James T.. "Roosevelt, Franklin Delano." World Book Online Reference Center.
http://www.worldbookonline.com/ar?/na/ar/co/ar474800.htm 
(November, 2003).

Magazine

Carpentiere, Elizabeth. "A World Without Polio." Faces. 
September, 2003: pp. 22-23.

Images

Images of wheelchair, vaccine, flag, and lips from "Microsoft Office Online" <http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?cag=1> (January, 2004).

Glossary

Polio: A disease that cripples people.  Return

Brainstem: A nerve that send signals to the nerves.  The nerves send the signals to the rest  of the body.  Return

Drug: Medicine that helps fight sicknesses.  Return

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