Risk of symptoms related to late effects of poliomyelitis

Abstract

Objective: To compare the risk of developing symptoms related to late effects of poliomyelitis between polio patients and persons of similar age and sex without history of poliomyelitis.

Material and methods: The study comprised information on 148 patients with prior poliomyelitis and 115 persons with no history of poliomyelitis. Information was obtained by questionnaire and analyzed by multiple logistic regression method.

Results: The risk of experiencing two or more symptoms was significantly higher among the polio patients than among the persons without history of poliomyelitis. The elevation in risk was less pronounced in the nonparalytic group (OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 0.92-5.97) than the group with permanent muscular weakness (OR = 8.84; 95% CI =4.32-18.09).

Conclusions: Although symptoms defined in the PPS are unspecific and may occur in the general population, the risk for developing such symptoms are higher among the polio victims. The difference in risk among nonparalytic and paralytic patients may depend on the extent of motor neuron damage in the acute stage.