Question: I have post-polio syndrome, and I have also been diagnosed with a viral infection. Will the viral infection take longer to clear up since I have post-polio syndrome?
Answer: Recovery time after viral infections in polio survivors has not been studied. There is no reason to expect that the basic healing mechanisms of the body are altered as a direct result of previous remote poliomyelitis infection.
Nevertheless, what has been observed is that the time it takes for polio survivors to return to their normal activity levels as a result of an infection that caused weakness and fatigue is often longer. This is true after any severe infection-related illness, viral or otherwise, as well as other severe illness related to a heart problem, intestinal problem, trauma, surgery, etc.
The common issue is if the illness is severe enough to result in a major limitation and a decrease in a person’s usual activity level. The reduction in activity level leads to underuse muscle weakness faster among most paralytic polio survivors. After the primary illness-related, activity-limiting symptoms are resolved, recovery of their usual muscle strength will take longer.
Some people have estimated that it make take polio survivors up to 12 times longer to recover from the effects of bed rest. In summary, your recovery time from a viral illness will depend on how severe the infection is relative to limiting your activity, how long the limitations persist, and the severity and extent of polio involvement of your muscles.
Post-Polio Health (Vol. 30, No. 1, Winter 2014)