Treatment of Poliomyelitis

There is no specific treatment which can stop the paralysis of the muscles, once it occurs, or bring about the full recovery of the muscles that are going to be affected permanently.

Since in some of these paralyzed muscles, contractures are likely to occur, and to begin with, one cannot say, which of the muscle/s will be permanently damaged, all the paralyzed limbs or part/ s of the limb / s must be kept in their proper positions.

In the height of the polio epidemic, the standard treatment involved placing a patient with paralysis of the breathing muscles in an "iron lung" a large machine that actually pushed and pulled the chest muscles to make them work. The damaged limbs were often kept immobilized because of the confinement of the iron lung. In countries where polio is still a concern, ventilators and some iron lungs are still used.

Early mobility/physiotherapy is the most important part of the treatment, to avoid contractures. However, surgical intervention may be required in some of the cases, so that the paralyzed limb can be used in the best possible way. Finally, orthopaedic appliances may also be required so that the person is able to live satisfactorily, as far as possible.

Historically, home treatment for paralytic polio and abortive polio with neurological symptoms wasn't sufficient. However, asymptomatic and mild cases of abortive polio with no neurological symptoms were usually treated like the flu, with plenty of fluids and bed rest.