Polio

Polio, the shortened form of poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease that is caused by the poliovirus. Most of the people who are afflicted are five years of age or younger. The poliovirus is spread through contact with fecal material that is transferred to a victim’s mouth. Once the virus enters the body, it moves to the intestines, where it multiplies rapidly. The disease attacks the nervous system by either inflaming or destroying the motor neurons. Among the early symptoms that may be displayed by those infected are fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and nausea. In 0.5 percent of cases, polio results in irreversible paralysis. In extremely rare cases, it can result in death due to the paralysis of the muscles required for breathing. Once a ...