The March of Dimes was founded in 1938 to combat epidemic polio in the United States, and its mission was realized by the early 1960s with development and widespread use of the Salk and Sabin vaccines. With polio rapidly dwindling as a public threat in the US, the March of Dimes changed the focus of its mission to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.
Although its mission had changed, the March of Dimes continued to be engaged in some polio-related issues, amongst others the publishing of public health information sheets on polio and Post Polio Syndrome. When they learned that a growing group of polio survivors reported that they were experiencing obstacles in the diagnosis and care of their fatigue, pain, weakness and other problems associated with Post Polio Syndrome, they convened an international steering committee. This consisted of people with lots of knowledge about PPS and its purpose was to improve knowledge among medical care providers and polio survivors of best practices in diagnosis and clinical management of PPS.
They keep the information updated and their information is recognised and used by PPS doctors, other medical professionals and researchers.
Two reports were drafted in 2000/2001 by the steering committee.
- The first is a report for medical care providers: Identifying Best Practices in Diagnosis & Care. It offers best practises in diagnosis and care; it contains chapters on pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical management and recommendations for establishment of comprehensive post-polio centres and for research.
Identifying Best Practices in Diagnosis & Care (English Version):
www.marchofdimes.com/files/PPSreport.pdfIdentifying Best Practices in Diagnosis & Care (French Version)
Identifying Best Practices in Diagnosis & Care (Spanish Version)
- The second report is a patient brochure that provides similar information in nonprofessional’s language: Guidelines for people who have had polio. This brochure is designed to update patients on best practices in the diagnosis and clinical management of PPS and to facilitate communication between patients and medical care providers.
Guidelines for people who have had polio (English Version):
www.marchofdimes.com/files/p-psbro.pdf
Guidelines for people who have had polio (French Version)