Polio, a highly infectious disease caused by a virus, primarily affects children under the age of 5. While many infected individuals may not display symptoms, polio can lead to fever, headaches, vomiting, and in severe cases, paralysis. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 200 polio cases results in permanent paralysis, with up to 10% of paralyzed children succumbing to the disease due to respiratory muscle paralysis.
The virus spreads through person-to-person contact, typically entering the body through the mouth via contaminated waste, water, or food. Polio has a long history, with ancient Egyptian records depicting children afflicted by the disease.
