Childhood polio: what to know

Polio is an infection caused by poliovirus. It can spread when virus from an infected person's stool reaches another person's mouth, particularly where hand hygiene or sanitation is limited. Some infections cause few or no obvious symptoms, while others can affect the nervous system and lead to muscle weakness or paralysis. Vaccination prepares the immune system before exposure and helps protect communities when children receive the doses recommended for them.

Keep the child's immunisation record available and follow the local childhood schedule. If a dose was delayed, contact a clinic to ask about catch-up vaccination rather than restarting the schedule yourself. Encourage handwashing after toilet use and before meals, and use safe water and sanitation practices. Take the record when travelling or changing clinics so the next dose can be checked accurately.

Seek urgent medical help for new weakness in an arm or leg, difficulty walking, trouble swallowing, or breathing difficulty. A child with fever, vomiting, neck stiffness, marked sleepiness, or sudden loss of movement also needs prompt assessment. These signs can have several causes, but neurological weakness should not wait for a routine appointment.

Ask whether your child's immunisation record is complete, whether catch-up doses are needed, and what symptoms should prompt urgent review. If travel is planned, ask whether the schedule or documentation needs checking.