Disease : Poliomyelitis “Infantile Paralysis”

Causative Agent

3 Types of Polio Virus:

• Type I Brunhilde
• Type II Lansing
• Type III Leon

Mode of Transmission

• Fecal-oral route
• Oral route through pharyngeal secretion
• Contact with infected person

Clinical Manifestation

Abortive - did not progress to systemic infection

Non-paralytic – slight involvement of the CNS

• Poker spine or stiffness of the spinal column
• Spasms of the hamstring
• With paresis

Paralytic – severe involvement of CNS

• Hoyne’s Sign – head falls back when he is in supine with shoulder elevated
• Paralysis
• Head log/drop
• Tripod position – extend his arm behind for support when he sits up
• Kernig’s sign
• Brudzinski sign

Reservoir

Man

Diagnostic Exam

• Throat swab
• Stool exam
• Lumbar exam
• Pandy’s test - for CSF analysis

Nursing Implication

• Strict Isolation
• Hot moist compress to relieve spasm
• Use protective devices:
• handroll to prevent claw hand
• trochanter roll, to prevent outer rotation of femur
• footboard