Polio - Diagnosis

Polio is now a rare disease in the United States. Many doctors have never seen a case of polio. A few symptoms are quite distinctive, however. A fever and paralysis without the loss of feeling is one clue to the presence of polio.

If a doctor suspects polio, the usual follow-up test is a lumbar puncture, or "spinal tap." A lumbar puncture is a procedure in which a sample of spinal fluid is removed with a long, thin needle. The spinal fluid can be examined for an elevated level of white blood cells and the absence of bacteria. These two factors taken together are a strong indication of polio.

The spinal fluid can also be tested for the presence of polio antibodies. Antibodies are chemicals produced by the immune system to fight against specific foreign invaders, such as the poliovirus.