Abnormal motility of the smooth muscle that comprises the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum) can cause a variety of symptoms, corresponding to the section involved. Gastrointestinal symptoms are commonly reported by polio survivors with one survey of 705 reporting 31% choking or dysphagia, 51% heartburn, 27% nausea, 46% constipation (see Constipation), 11% vomiting, 52% abdominal bloating, and 32% diarrhea (Anuras & Bozeman, 1991). Only swallowing has been well-studied and is commonly accepted as resulting directly from bulbar polio involvement of mouth and throat muscles (see Swallowing). The frequent symptoms and abnormalities in other sections of the GI tract may possibly be a result of previous polio, but there are no published conclusive studies showing this fact. GI symptoms and conditions are very common in the general population of the same ages as polio survivors. Treatment of these GI disorders in survivors is the same as for the general population.
Reference
Anuras, S., & Bozeman, T. (1991, September 21). Gastrointestinal involvement in the post-polio syndrome. Paper presented at Second Texas-Oklahoma Post-Polio Symposium, Wichita Falls, TX.