Polio

Polio is an illness that causes sudden weakness / lameness of the limbs and sometimes death in children. The polio virus can be passed easily from one person to another. The polio virus affects mostly children below 5 years.

Prevent Polio

Polio can be prevented by immunisation with polio drops at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 18 weeks and 5 years of age.

How do you know It may be polio?

Polio causes sudden weakness or inability to use a leg and / or arm.
In children who are too young to walk, the mother may notice that one of the legs appears floppy and weak.

Community Participation

Community members and parents can help by immediately reporting any child who develops weakness of either an arm and / or leg (without any injury), to the nearest clinic or hospital.
When a patient with such weakness is taken to hospital, tests are done to ensure it is not polio.
All parents and care givers must take their children to the clinic for polio drops at the correct age.

Remember

Polio can be prevented.
A deformity caused by polio cannot be reversed - it is there for life.
A child is fully protected against polio if he / she gets all prescribed vaccine doses at the correct ages.
Immunisation is free at all Public health facilities.
Immunisation is the most precious gift that we can give to our children.

For further information, please contact your nearest hospital, primary health care centre or clinic

This site is best viewed at 1024 x 786 using Internet Explorer 4 or later.

The materials on this website may be copied for non-commercial use as long as our copyright notice and website address are included.
Copyright © KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, 2001