Note: Individuals infected with the poliovirus are often asymptomatic. In approximately 25% of cases, polio presents as a mild to moderate illness marked by headache, fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Polio affects the central nervous system only infrequently with inflammation and sometimes destruction of the motor neurons in the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain stem. Central nervous system involvement results in temporary or permanent muscle weakness or motor paralysis especially of the limbs and typically the legs. Polio may become life-threatening when paralysis affects the muscles involved in breathing and swallowing.
Mary Beth Norton et al.Betsy McKaycalled also infantile paralysis, poliomyelitis
see post-polio syndromeExamples of polio in a Sentence
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
Last week, the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza was postponed due to escalating violence in north Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
—Nadeen Ebrahim and Salma Arafa, CNN, 28 Oct. 2024
What interrupted his path was being stricken by polio in 1921.
—John Baldoni, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Her friends could be especially cruel to Julien (Orlando Schwerdt), a boy whose kindness toward Sara is overshadowed by the fact that polio has forced him to walk with a crutch.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for polio 
Dictionary Entries Near polio
Cite this Entry
“Polio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polio. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polio
noun
Medical Definition
polio
noun
Note: Individuals infected with the poliovirus are often asymptomatic. In approximately 25% of cases, polio presents as a mild to moderate illness marked by headache, fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Polio affects the central nervous system only infrequently with inflammation and sometimes destruction of the motor neurons in the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain stem. Central nervous system involvement results in temporary or permanent muscle weakness or flaccid paralysis of muscles especially of the limbs and typically the legs. Polio may become life-threatening when paralysis affects the muscles involved in breathing and swallowing.
People WeeklyEvan Johnson, The Addison County (Vermont) Independentcalled also infantile paralysis, poliomyelitis
see post-polio syndrome
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