Acute poliomyelitis

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Acute Poliomyelitis

Acute poliomyelitis (pronunciation: a-kyoot poh-lee-oh-my-uh-lai-tis) is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects young children. The virus, transmitted through contaminated food and water, multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.

Etymology

The term "poliomyelitis" is derived from the Greek words "polio" meaning grey and "myelos" meaning marrow, referring to the grey matter of the spinal cord. "Acute" is derived from the Latin word "acutus" meaning sharp or severe, indicating the sudden onset and severity of the disease symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms of acute poliomyelitis include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In severe cases, it can lead to permanent paralysis or death.

Related Terms

  • Poliomyelitis: A viral disease that can cause paralysis and death. It is often referred to as polio or infantile paralysis.
  • Post-polio syndrome: A condition that affects polio survivors years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliomyelitis virus.
  • Non-paralytic polio: A type of polio that does not lead to paralysis.
  • Paralytic polio: A type of polio that leads to paralysis.

Prevention and Treatment

Acute poliomyelitis can be prevented by immunization with the polio vaccine. There is no cure for polio once it has been contracted, but it can be treated with supportive therapies such as pain relief medication, portable ventilators to assist breathing, moderate exercise and a healthy diet.

See Also

External links

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