Dr Kerryn Phelps, Health Editor, 'Today', Channel Nine, with Tracey Grimshaw
GRIMSHAW: …Let's talk about post-polio syndrome, Kerryn. What is it, exactly?
PHELPS: Well, this has been in the news, coming from the United States, recently. Well, it's a syndrome that occurs up to forty years after you've had a case of polio. So, Australia does have tens of thousands of polio survivors, and there were a number of epidemics in the past, and, of course, the tragic results because polio caused a very rapid paralysis and it affected tens of thousands of Australian children. And, of course, some died and then you survive with quite significant disability because of the paralysis of their muscles. And we are now seeing the beginnings of …… what is called post-polio syndrome.
GRIMSHAW: What causes it, and why does it take so long to develop?
PHELPS: Well, it's not known exactly what causes it, but what they think happens is that when you have polio you get damage to the nerves, and other nerves that are remaining grow in to try and restore function to the muscles, and it's overburdening of those muscles and those nerves, many years later, that seems to cause this post-polio syndrome, which is new weakness in muscles that weren't previously weak. It can be painful in joints and in muscles, and terrible fatigue. Some people will get breathing problems, and so it really is a very distressing condition. I think it's important that even people who had a very mild case of polio, may not even have known that they had polio in the past, can get this post-polio syndrome.
GRIMSHAW: Is it simple to treat?
PHELPS: It's not simple to treat, at all, and it really requires rest. And, I think we're really going to see some major efforts at research to find out what causes this syndrome and how to best go about managing it. But I think the important point is that if people have had polio in the past and they're getting these symptoms, that they know what it is and that they can get some expert advice. And I think we need to see more research efforts into this syndrome because it is going to reach a peak in Australia, probably in the next ten years.
GRIMSHAW: Alright. Thanks, Kerryn.
PHELPS: Thank you.
Ends