Question

A case of acute flaccid paralysis must be observed for how many days to look for residual weakness?

• A. 30 days
• B. 42 days
• C. 60 days
• D. 90 days

Hint:

Think of the residual paralysis check in polio eradication AFP surveillance.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance is the backbone of the polio eradication programme. Every AFP case in a child under 15 years is investigated to rule out poliomyelitis.
Step 2: Two stool samples are collected within 14 days of paralysis onset to look for wild poliovirus. The clinical follow up runs alongside the lab work.
Step 3: A 60 day follow up examination is done after the onset of paralysis. The purpose is to check whether residual weakness persists, because residual paralysis at 60 days is a key clinical pointer to poliomyelitis.
Step 4: A case with no residual weakness and two negative stool samples can be discarded as non polio AFP, while persistence of weakness raises concern for polio. This makes the standard observation period 60 days.
Step 5: 30 and 42 days are too early to call residual weakness, and 90 days is longer than the protocol requires.
The correct answer is option C (60 days).