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

The question tests the standard timing built into AFP surveillance under polio eradication. When a child below 15 years develops sudden floppy weakness, the case is notified and stool is sampled early to hunt for poliovirus. The clinical side of the protocol asks for a re examination at a fixed interval after paralysis began, and that interval is 60 days. At this point the examiner judges whether the limb weakness has cleared or stayed. Lingering weakness at 60 days strongly suggests true polio, whereas full recovery points to other causes such as Guillain Barre syndrome or transient paralysis. Choosing 30 or 42 days would assess the patient before recovery has had time to occur, giving false alarms, and 90 days simply exceeds the agreed protocol. So the fixed residual weakness check is set at 60 days. $$\boxed{60\ \text{days}}$$