Living With Polio

Millions of individuals who had polio are living in all areas of the world. Survivors range in age from a few months to nonagenarians (in their nineties). Aftereffects vary greatly depending on the number and location of the nerve cells destroyed by the poliovirus. The challenge or ease of living with polio varies for each survivor, depending on the availability of medical care and rehabilitation opportunities, and their family and social support.

Advice, hints, explanations, etc., are categorized by topic and are searchable. The source of the material is identified.

Reminder: PHI’s post-polio.org and IVUN’s ventusers.org or ventnews.org features numerous articles to assist in living with polio.

Persisting Noninfectious Genome Fragments of Poliovirus in PPS Patients

In 2009, PHI awarded $25,000 to team from University of Insubria, Varese, Italy, led by Antonio Toniolo, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Virology.

Final Report
Antonio Toniolo, MD; Andreina Baj, MD; Giuseppe Maccari, MS - Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Insubria Medical Center, Varese, Italy

Swallowing Difficulty and the Late Effects of Polio

Barbara C. Sonies, PhD, CCC, BRS-S, College Park, Maryland

A major polio epidemic in the mid-20th century left many survivors with a wide variety of physical limitations including problems swallowing foods. Many persons with swallowing problems also had original bulbar signs of polio including difficulty breathing, clearing the throat, speaking and singing.

Role of Oral Glutathione (2013)

PHI awarded $25,000 each to two research groups in 2011. This is the report from the University of Michigan.

Claire Z. Kalpakjian, PhD, MS, University of Michigan, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Summary of Poliovirus Genome in Patients with Post-Polio Syndrome

Joan L. Headley, Executive Director, PHI

In late 2013, Post-Polio Health International awarded $100,000 to the team of Antonio Toniolo, MD; Andreina Baj, MD; Martina Colombo, PhD – Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria Medical Center, Varese, Italy, to expand its search for poliovirus genome in various populations.

Multicenter, Multi-country Study Underway (2015)

Joan L. Headley, Executive Director, Post-Polio Health International

Typical of most studies, the name of the most recently announced study related to post-polio syndrome is long but exactingly descriptive: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind, Parallel-Group Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) Flebogamma® 5% DIF in Patients with Post-Polio Syndrome.

Opportunities to Participate in Research

NEW STUDY ON AFM AND POLIO A new study concerning acute flaccid myelitis (AFM... More

Submit your artifact

Polio Place

A service of Post-Polio Health International