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Poliomyelitis

Background

Poliomyelitis: Polio: Infantile Paralysis

Poliomyelitis is caused by an infection with the Poliomyelitis virus, which is an enterovirus. Polio can appear at any age, but used to be more common in young children hence the name Infantile Paralysis. It occurred in widespread epidemics particularly after the Second World War, but these have largely disappeared with the advent on effective immunization in the late 1950's. Occasional new cases do, however appear even in developed countries.

What are the symptoms? View What are the symptoms?

Medical text last reviewed January 2004 by Dr J M Shneerson, Consultant Physician, Director of the Respiratory Support and Sleep Centre, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

 

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