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
Jessica George, JSTOR Daily, 25 June 2025
This doubling of global coverage of vaccines has prevented countless cases of tuberculosis, measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
—Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 June 2025
The Golden Age by Joan London The polio epidemic and T.B., as fictional subjects, are both really interesting to me, because stories about them are often about people in hospitals, and are focussed on the drama of being outside of things.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 18 June 2025
The same is true for polio, tetanus, COVID and all else.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polio
Cite this Entry
“Polio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polio. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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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