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What is polio and how can I protect my child?
Polio is a highly infectious virus that can cause paralysis, but vaccination can protect a child for life.
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What it is
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus [1]. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours [1]. The virus spreads from person to person, mainly through the faecal-oral route, and less often through contaminated water or food [1]. It multiplies in the intestine [1].
Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs [1]. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, usually in the legs [1]. Among those paralysed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised [1].
Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age [1]. However, anyone of any age who is unvaccinated can contract the disease [1]. According to the CDC, polio is a contagious viral infection of the nerves and brain, spread through the mouth from stool on contaminated hands, food or liquid, and by air and direct contact [6]. Its complications are paralysis and death [6].
There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented [1]. Cases due to wild poliovirus have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases in more than 125 endemic countries to two endemic countries [2]. Wild poliovirus remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan [5]. Until transmission is interrupted there, all countries remain at risk of poliovirus importation, particularly those with weak health systems, low immunization coverage, and travel or trade links to affected areas [5].
What you can do at home
- Make sure your child receives the polio vaccine. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life [1].
- Two vaccines are available: oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine. Both are effective and safe, and both are used in different combinations worldwide [1].
- Follow your country’s routine immunization schedule. According to the CDC, children should receive polio doses at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 4–6 years [9].
- In 2025, an estimated 86% of infants worldwide received their first dose of inactivated polio vaccine, and 74% received two or more doses [5].
- Practise handwashing and safe food and water hygiene, since the virus spreads mainly through the faecal-oral route and contaminated water or food [1].
- Ask your doctor if your child’s vaccinations are up to date, especially before travel to areas where poliovirus is still present [5].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Seek medical help if your child has any of these signs:
- Fever [1]
- Fatigue [1]
- Headache [1]
- Vomiting [1]
- Stiffness of the neck [1]
- Pain in the limbs [1]
- Weakness or paralysis, which can develop in a matter of hours [1]
Paralysis is irreversible, and among those paralysed, 5–10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilised [1]. If your child has sudden weakness, difficulty moving a limb or difficulty breathing, go to the emergency department or call your local emergency number straight away.
Common questions
Is there a cure for polio? No. There is no cure for polio; it can only be prevented [1].
How well does the vaccine work? Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life [1]. Both the oral and the inactivated vaccine are effective and safe [1].
Who is most at risk? Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age, but anyone of any age who is unvaccinated can contract the disease [1].
Has polio been eliminated? Cases due to wild poliovirus have fallen by over 99% since 1988 [2]. The WHO Region of the Americas was certified polio-free in 1994, the Western Pacific Region in 2000, the European Region in 2002, the South-East Asia Region in 2014, and Africa in 2020 [4]. More than 20 million people are able to walk today who would otherwise have been paralysed [4]. However, as long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk [2].
Why does it still matter if my country is polio-free? Until poliovirus transmission is interrupted in the remaining endemic countries, all countries remain at risk of importation, particularly those with low immunization coverage [5]. Failure to stop polio in the last remaining areas could result in a global resurgence of the disease [3].
Sources
[1] WHO — “Poliomyelitis”, section “Symptoms and risk”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis [2] WHO — “Poliomyelitis”, section “Key facts”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis [3] WHO — “Poliomyelitis”, section “Eradication”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis [4] WHO — “Poliomyelitis”, section “WHO response”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/poliomyelitis [5] WHO — “Immunization coverage”, section “Global immunization coverage 2025”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage [6] CDC — “Recommended Vaccines for Young Children”, section “What diseases do these vaccines protect against?”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-schedules/child-easyread.html [9] CDC — “Recommended Vaccines for Young Children”, section “Key”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-schedules/child-easyread.html
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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