Case Report


From diagnosis to treatment of post-polio syndrome: A case study

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1 Medical student at Iguaçu University - UNIG/RJ, Nova Iguaçu - RJ, Brazil

2 Medical student at Iguaçu University, Iguaçu University - UNIG/RJ, Nova Iguaçu - RJ, Brazil

3 Physician, Neurologist, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Universidade Iguaçu - UNIG/ Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil

4 Department of Neurology of Hospital Geral de Nova Iguaçu, PhD student in Neurology at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro - UNIRIO, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Iguaçu University - UNIG/Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil

5 Professor of Neurology - Universidade Iguaçu - UNIG-RJ, Nova Iguaçu - RJ; Physician of the Neurology Service of Nova Iguaçu General Hospital, Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil

6 Physician, Neurologist, State University of Rio de Janeiro - UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Address correspondence to:

Antonio Marcos da Silva Catharino

Rua Gavião Peixoto 70, Room 811, CEP 24.2230-100, Icaraí, Niterói-RJ,

Brazil

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Article ID: 101384Z01DP2023

doi: 10.5348/101384Z01DP2023CR

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How to cite this article

Pereira DA, Santos YFMC, Neves MAO, da Silva Catharino AM, Martins GC, Davidovich ER. From diagnosis to treatment of post-polio syndrome: A case study. Int J Case Rep Images 2023;14(1):61–65.

ABSTRACT


Introduction: Acute anterior poliomyelitis (AAP) can affect people of any age, despite being uncommon before six months. The viral invasion destroys the lower motor neurons of the spinal cord, brain, and brainstem. As a result, it leads to partial or complete flaccid and asymmetrical paralysis of the lower limb and spine muscles. Big names like Frida Kahlo and US President Franklin D Roosevelt were diagnosed with polio.

Case Report: We present the case of a patient with AAP diagnosed at two years of age. As an adult, he gave osteomyoarticular sequelae, insomnia, new central (adynamia), peripheral fatigue, cold intolerance, joint and neuropathic pain. The patient received a clinical diagnosis of post-polio syndrome (PPS) after fulfilling Dalakas criteria. The physical examination showed some hallmarks of AAP, in addition to those primarily affected by PPS.

Conclusion: Post-polio syndrome is a disorder characterized by new neuromuscular deficits that present years after the resolution of polio infection. However, far beyond the physical pain, the psychosocial impact is staggering. Therefore, in addition to surgical intervention and physical therapy, attention should be paid to the psychological follow-up of this patient, who is most often elderly.

Keywords: Acute poliomyelitis, Poliomyelitis, Post-polio syndrome

SUPPORTING INFORMATION


Author Contributions

Daniel Antunes Pereira - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Yasmin Faria Menezes Castro Santos - Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Marco Antônio Orsini Neves - Acquisition of data, Analysis of data, Interpretation of data, Revising it critically for important intellectual content, Final approval of the version to be published

Antonio Marcos da Silva Catharino - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Gilberto Canedo Martins Jr - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Eduardo Rodrigues Davidovich - Substantial contributions to conception and design, Interpretation of data, Drafting the article, Final approval of the version to be published

Guarantor of Submission

The corresponding author is the guarantor of submission.

Source of Support

None

Consent Statement

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this article.

Data Availability

All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Conflict of Interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Copyright

© 2023 Daniel Antunes Pereira et al. This article is distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original author(s) and original publisher are properly credited. Please see the copyright policy on the journal website for more information.