Symptoms are treated according to their presence and severity. Antibiotics may be used to treat urinary tract infections . Medications such as bethanechol may reduce urinary retention. Analgesics are used to reduce headache , muscle pain , and spasms . Narcotics are not usually given because they increase the risk of breathing difficulty .
Activity is limited only by the extent of discomfort and the extent of muscle weakness .
Physical therapy, braces or corrective shoes, orthopedic surgery, or similar interventions may eventually be necessary to maximize recovery of muscle strength and function. Disability is more common than death. Lesions high in the spinal cord or in the brain are associated with greater risk for respiratory difficulty. Call your health care provider if symptoms of poliomyelitis occur. Call your health care provider if someone close to you has developed poliomyelitis and you are not immunized against the disorder.