Article

Polio survivors in France are estimated at 50,000. This study aimed
at describing their needs from their clinical and vocational conditions. METHOD:
A retrospective study of our physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM)
consultation activity. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen women/85 men, with a mean
age of 51years+/-14.3 (17 to 82). Paralysis involved only one lower limb in 108
patients, the two lower limbs in 56 patients and only one upper limb in 4. At the
time of the first consultation 137 patients had experienced functional worsening.
The complaints were pain (105 subjects), fatigue (59) and new paresis (58). Only
25% had retired. Post-polio syndrome criteria were present in 46 subjects (23%).
Patients who had contracted poliomyelitis in France (56%) differed from the other
subjects with regard to age (58.4 versus 41.5), professional status and frequency
of PPS (30.9% versus 12.6%). CONCLUSION: These polio survivors were not
particularly aged and they had often experienced functional worsening. The
evolution of their disease shall represent a public health issue over the decades
to come.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS ; FRANCAIS