Post-Polio Syndrome: case series and review of the literature

Abstract Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) is a late-onset condition affecting polio survivors, typically decades after the initial infection. PPS is a diagnosis of exclusion, confirmed by clinical history, electromyography (EMG), and the absence of other neurological disorders. Key features include asymmetrical, flaccid paresis without sensory loss, fatigue, muscle atrophy, and pain. PPS involves chronic inflammation and a cycle of denervation and re-innervation in motor neurons, leading to eventual failure of compensatory mechanisms. There is no specific cure. We present three case studies of male patients from South Africa, Mozambique, and Kenya, all of whom experienced a return or worsening of neuromuscular symptoms years after recovering well from childhood polio.