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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Polio history and symptoms

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Most cases of poliomyelitis are asymptomatic. The symptomatic cases may occur as 3 different clinical syndromes. 4 to 8% of the symptomatic cases present as abortive poliomyelitis, a mild form of the disease that may include symptoms similar to those of gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection and flu-like disease. Two percent of the symptomatic cases present as non-paralytic poliomyelitis, with symptoms that may include fever, headache, neck, back, abdominal, limb pain, sensory abnormalities, muscle spasms, and irritability. In less than 1% of symptomatic cases, the disease presents as paralytic poliomyelitis, with symptoms of non-paralytic poliomyelitis, as well as muscle weakness, asymmetrical paralysis, muscle atrophy, tremors, and skeletal deformities.

History and Symptoms

History and Symptoms

  • About 95% of patients with a healthy immune system do not develop symptoms of poliomyelitis.[1]
  • Approximately 4 to 8% of infections with poliovirus result in minor, nonspecific disease, without clinical or laboratory evidence of CNS involvement. This form of the disease is called abortive poliomyelitis.[1]
  • In about 1 to 2% of poliovirus infections, the disease manifests as non-paralytic poliomyelitis. Symptoms usually appear several days after an initial prodrome that is similar to that of abortive poliomyelitis.[1]
  • Less than 1% of patients infected with poliovirus develop paralytic poliomyelitis. In this form of the disease, symptoms usually appear 1 to 10 days after the initial prodromal symptoms, progressing over 2 to 3 days.[1]

Abortive Poliomyelitis

Common symptoms of abortive poliomyelitis may mimic those of gastroenteritis, acute respiratory infection, and influenza-like disease, such as:[2]

Non-Paralytic Poliomyelitis

Common symptoms of non-paralytic poliomyelitis may include:[2]

Paralytic Poliomyelitis

Common symptoms of paralytic poliomyelitis may include those of non-paralytic poliomyelitis. Additional symptoms may include:[3][2][4]

References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 “Poliomyelitis”.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Falconer M, Bollenbach E (2000). “Late functional loss in nonparalytic polio”. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists. 79 (1): 19–23. PMID 10678598.
  3. ↑ Wood, Lawrence D. H.; Hall, Jesse B.; Schmidt, Gregory D. (2005). Principles of Critical Care, Third Edition. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 870. ISBN 0-07-141640-4.
  4. ↑ Alcalá H (1993). “[The differential diagnosis of poliomyelitis and other acute flaccid paralyses]”. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex. 50 (2): 136–44. PMID 8442872.
  5. ↑ Mandell, Gerald (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s principles and practice of infectious diseases. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 0443068399.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]