Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis, often called infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route.

1. The term derives from the Greek poliós (πολιός), meaning "grey", myelós (µυελός), referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation.

2. Although around 90% of polio infections cause no symptoms at all, affected individuals can exhibit a range of symptoms if the virus enters the blood stream.

3. In about 1% of cases the virus enters the central nervous system, preferentially infecting and destroying motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and acute flaccid paralysis. Different types of paralysis may occur, depending on the nerves involved. read the story...

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History of Polio
Until the 19th century, polio was a common infection that rarely caused paralysis in children. As the 1800s ended, however, the nature of the disease changed. Ironically, this change occurred as a result of gradual improvements in sanitation and plumbing. Poor sanitation had constantly exposed people to poliovirus and other fecal contaminants. read the story...

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Polio Prevention
Identifying the Polio Virus
Paralytic Polio
Spinal Polio
Bulbar polio
Advances in Treatment
How Polio Develops
Types of Polio diseases
PPS Post-Polio Syndrome