Why Do We Recover Completely From A Cold But Not From Polio?

The polio virus affects the nervous system.The cold virus affect the linings of respiratory passages.

Polio virus and cold viruses work differently. A polio virus affects nervous tissue. Nerve tissue cannot undergo regeneration,except in a limited manner,so damages are for a lifetime.
The cold virus attacks the lining of the respiratory passage. This is made of tissue which is replaced throughout the lifetime of an individual.

There is no “cure” for polio. People infected with polio need supportive therapy, such as bed rest and fluids. Standard precautions should be taken to avoid passing on the virus through any contamination from the patient’s stool.