Polio Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Polio, including details on symptoms, treatment, vaccines, causes, virus.

Postpolio syndrome: a challenge to the health-care system.

Bouza C, Muñoz A, Amate JM

Agency for Health Technology Assessment, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Health & Consumer Affairs, Sinesio Delgado 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain. cbouza@isciii.es

The practical eradication of poliomyelitis in industrialized countries marks one of the most important achievements of world health policy. Yet, disability induced by polio not only continues to exist among survivors with paralytic sequelae, but may also be further accentuated in a considerable number of affected subjects by the development of postpolio syndrome (PPS). PPS aggravates the motor sequelae already present in such subjects and reduces their functional capacity to the point where it affects their activities of daily living and worsens their quality of life. Inasmuch as development of PPS questions the concept of poliomyelitis as a static disease it poses a challenge not only to health professionals but also to policy-makers tasked with providing the necessary health-care measures and appropriate resources. This study sought to review research on this syndrome and to draw up some recommendations that might prove useful to the health authorities for decision-making purposes.

Published 26 November 2004 in Health Policy, 71(1): 97-106.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Polio Research Today. All Rights Reserved.