Syndrome can attack polio survivors years later

Published: July 27, 2016, 6:29 p.m.

b'Polio epidemics are a thing of the past in the U.S., wiped out since the 1950s by vaccines. But some survivors of those epidemics are stricken decades later by post-polio syndrome, which brings back the weakness and pain they battled in their youth. There is no medication for this syndrome, but patients can be helped to manage and stabilize the condition, such as through carefully limited exercises, says neurologist Polio epidemics are a thing of the past in the U.S., wiped out since the 1950s by vaccines. But some survivors of those epidemics are stricken decades later by post-polio syndrome, which brings back the weakness and pain they battled in their youth. There is no medication for this syndrome, but patients can be helped to manage and stabilize the condition, such as through carefully limited exercises, says neurologist Burk Jubelt, MD Burk Jubelt, MD, who runs a, who runs a post-polio syndrome clinic post-polio syndrome clinic at Upstate. Jubelt, who is\\xa0 a professor of neurology, microbiology and immunology and the neuroscience graduate program, also gives an overview of polio and describes recent developments in polio vaccines. at Upstate. Jubelt, who is\\xa0 a professor of neurology, microbiology and immunology and the neuroscience graduate program, also gives an overview of polio and describes recent developments in polio vaccines.'