Acute Poliomyelitis Medication

  • Author: Christine Weiler, MD; Chief Editor: Denise I Campagnolo, MD, MS   more...
 
Updated: Jan 18, 2012
 

Medication Summary

Prevention has been proven to be the key to treatment for poliomyelitis. Development of effective vaccines from cultures of human embryonic tissues and monkey kidney cells represent significant achievements. As a result of the introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine in the 1950s, followed by oral poliovirus vaccine in the 1960s, cases of poliomyelitis in the United States have become rare following vaccination. Inadequate use of the vaccine in areas with low standards for public health still may increase the risk of outbreaks of poliomyelitis because of lack of immunity.

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Vaccines

Class Summary

Provide active immunity against poliovirus

Salk vaccine (inactivated poliovirus vaccine [IPV])

 

Two IPV products are licensed in the United States, although only 1 of these (IPOL) is distributed there. IPV contains formalin-inactivated poliovirus strains of the 3 different serotypes (Mahoney, MEF-1, Saukett). Administered through injection, stimulates serum IgM, IgG, and IgA. Data have confirmed that 90-100% of children develop protective antibodies to all 3 types of poliovirus after administration of 2 doses of currently available IPV, and 99-100% develop protective antibodies after 3 doses. Routine poliovirus vaccination of adults residing in the United States is not necessary.

High-risk adults (eg, travelers to epidemic areas, members of community with poliovirus disease, health care workers with close contact of patients who might excrete wild poliovirus, unvaccinated adults whose children will receive oral polio vaccine) should be vaccinated.

IPV is the only vaccine recommended for vaccination of immunodeficient persons and their household contacts.

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Sabin vaccine (Orimune)

 

Consists of attenuated live poliovirus. Sabin vaccine is very effective in providing local gastrointestinal immunity and circulating antibodies.

Routine immunization using oral polio vaccine (OPV) in the United States has been discontinued to eliminate the risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) according to the 2000 ACIP new recommendations. However, an emergency stockpile of OPV for polio outbreak control is maintained.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Christine Weiler, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Christine Weiler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Medical Association, Association of Academic Physiatrists, and Colorado Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Selina Yingqi Xing, MD, MS  Staff Physician, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Temple University

Selina Yingqi Xing, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Medical Association, and Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Harry Schwartz, MD  Director of Medical Rehabilitation Program & Spinal Cord Injury Program, Moss Rehabilitation Hospital; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Temple University School of Medicine

Harry Schwartz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, American Medical Association, American Paraplegia Society, American Spinal Injury Association, and Pennsylvania Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Milton J Klein, DO, MBA  Consulting Physiatrist, Heritage Valley Health System-Sewickley Hospital and Ohio Valley General Hospital

Milton J Klein, DO, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, American Academy of Osteopathy, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Pain Society, and Pennsylvania Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Kat Kolaski, MD  Assistant Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Kat Kolaski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kelly L Allen, MD  Medical Director, Medevals

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Denise I Campagnolo, MD, MS  Director of Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research and Staff Physiatrist, Barrow Neurology Clinics, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center; Investigator for Barrow Neurology Clinics; Director, NARCOMS Project for Consortium of MS Centers

Denise I Campagnolo, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Paraplegia Society, Association of Academic Physiatrists, and Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers

Disclosure: Teva Neuroscience Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Serono-Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genzyme Corporation Grant/research funds investigator; Biogen Idec Grant/research funds investigator; Genentech, Inc Grant/research funds investigator; Eli Lilly & Company Grant/research funds investigator; Novartis investigator; MSDx LLC Grant/research funds investigator; BioMS Technology Corp Grant/research funds investigator; Avanir Pharmaceuticals Grant/research funds investigator

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The typical contractures of postpolio residual paralysis.
Orthotic treatment for deformities around the knee in poliomyelitis.
Surgical correction of a fixed flexion deformity of the knee and hip due to iliotibial band contracture, by Souttar and Yount's release.
 
 
 
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