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Poliomyelitis in India: past, present and future.

¹School of Healthcare Studies, University of Leeds, 18 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds LS2 9HD, U.K. nurhvw@leeds.ac.uk

Indian Journal of Pediatrics

|December 29, 2000

Summary

Unnecessary childhood injections in India may worsen polio paralysis, increasing its prevalence and severity. A national campaign is needed to prevent these injections, especially for febrile children.

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Area of Science:

Epidemiology
Public Health
Pediatrics

Background:

Poliomyelitis studies from temperate climates may not be applicable to polio-endemic regions like the Indian subcontinent.
Polio prevalence in India has shown complex trends, with rapid decreases near effective vaccination centers but potential increases overall.
A significant proportion of polio cases in India may be aggravated by unnecessary intramuscular injections given to febrile children.

Purpose of the Study:

To review changes in polio epidemiology in India since 1940.
To examine the impact of unnecessary intramuscular injections on polio paralysis severity and prevalence.
To analyze gender disparities in polio prevalence and rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing data on polio in India, including prevalence surveys and sentinel center data.
Analysis of the National Baseline Prevalence survey figures.
Examination of factors influencing polio paralysis, such as unnecessary injections and physical activity.

Main Results:

Unnecessary injections may cause more severe paralysis in 45% of cases and convert non-paralytic to paralytic polio in 30% of Indian children annually.
The median age of polio paralysis has decreased, potentially due to vaccinations and injections.
A significant gender gap in polio prevalence and rehabilitation exists, possibly due to higher mortality in girls with paralysis.

Conclusions:

A national campaign against unnecessary injections for febrile children is urgently needed to reduce polio severity and prevalence.
Rehabilitation services for polio survivors have been neglected and require significant improvement.
Further research should focus on infants and adult polio cases, while prohibiting research with virulent strains.

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