Polio Or Poliomyelitis : An Infectious Disease That Is Caused By The Poliovirus

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a disease that attacks the nervous tissue in the spinal cord and the brain stem resulting in paralysis (Document One). Polio is caused by the poliovirus, but it is unknown how this virus is acquired. The virus enters the digestive tract and stays in the intestines for up to eight weeks, and then attacks the lymphatic system, the blood stream and eventually travels to the brain and spine (Document Four). Once it is infected in one’s body, the disease is highly contagious and can be spread through contact of saliva, food, germs, or feces (Document Two). “The poliovirus causes most of its infections in the summer and fall. At one time, summer epidemics of polio were common and greatly feared” (Document Four). This may

Polio is a deadly virus that hit america in the 1930s (Franklin Roosevelt founds...N.P.). Franklin Roosevelt founds March of Dimes Polio is also known to be a crippling disease, which affected Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the age of 39. But, on January the third he created a foundation for a cure for polio called March of Dimes(Franklin Roosevelt founds March of Dimes N.P.).10 years later he created a foundation,Warm Springs Foundation, which focus entirely on the treatment of people with polio(Franklin Roosevelt founds March of Dimes N.P.). In 1934, a business, Henry Doherty donated $25,000 to establish a series of birthday balls(Franklin Roosevelt founds March of Dimes N.P.). In the first year they raised 1 million dollars off

The polio epidemic affected lives of people in the 1950’s both with and without being diagnosed, and despite it being cured Polio has changed the world and its views of vaccines and medicine, rehabilitation and Government views. Having been around for centuries, Poliomyelitis has dated back to ancient Egypt, but it became a major issue in the United States in the 1940’s-1950’s. Now it is known that the disease was spread by a spread of contaminated Fecal matter.(Rogers) Mostly affecting the infantile population, Polio often caused symptoms stiffness of the neck or back or paralysis.(Paul, as cited in Loeb) The Polio epidemic had a higher morbidity rate than a mortality because of the disease causing more physical damages to the body.

It can lead to a loss in muscle movement in the chest, limbs, and throat (“Polio Vaccine”), or even total paralysis (Laidlaw 9). Some symptoms of polio are headaches, a fever, fatigue, muscle pains, and spasms. Most cases of polio start around the age of five. In the United States, there has been a ninety-nine percent decrease in cases of polio since 1988. In the United States the number of polio cases fell from eighteen cases per 100,000 people to fewer than two per 100,000.

Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease caused by the contraction of the poliovirus. Like influenza, smallpox and cholera, polio is a viral infection. This means that it is a disease caused by the spread of a virus. It spreads rapidly, and usually through person-to-person contact. In addition, this virus can also be distributed through foods or drinks contaminated by infected fecal matter. Although polio is deadly, sometimes, contractors of polio do not show any symptoms. The

All three strands attack the nervous system and the digestive tract, making fecal matter and vomit infectious. Polio may also be contracted through contaminated food or water. Due to the highly infectious nature of the poliovirus, epidemics were rampant in poor communities and among young children attending school. Epidemics swept the nation during the 1930s, 20s and 10s. People lived in fear of their children contracting such a harmful illness. Schools and swimming pools were closed in order to prevent the spread of the virus (Last). Mothers were warned against breastfeeding, as the virus had the potential to be spread through breast milk

The last cases of naturally occurring paralytic polio in the United States were in 1979, when an outbreak occurred among the Amish in several Midwestern states. From

The poliovirus was very common to have until the polio vaccine was introduced in 1955. Polio or poliomyelitis is a disease caused by a virus that affects the intestines and or the throat. Polio can and is usually spread through personal contact or through saliva. Although statistics say that one percent that have developed polio had no symptoms, polio could cause paralysis where you wouldn't be able to move body parts such as your arms and legs which could allow you to be disabled for

The virus that I had for this project was the virus Polio. The scientific name for this virus is poliomyelitis. poliomyelitis was discovered in 1908 by Karl Landsteiner and Erwin Popper. They discovered the infectious disease was infact polio. They even went as far as taking the spinal cord fluid from a person, who in fact had the disease, and they injected it into a monkey and that monkey was infected with the Polio Virus. They were further able to find that the muscle paralysis was linked to the polio virus. Even though they knew the virus was polio, they could not physically see the disease until the 1950’s due to the invention of the electron microscope. Polio is a Rna based Virus that infects the muscle system on your body that can have

Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) affects polio survivors several years after infection. Current prevalence and cause is unknown but researchers estimate that 25-40% of survivors experience PPS. Theories for causes include fatigue of overworked nerve cells and brain damage caused by polio. Common symptoms are progressive muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and fatigue (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). Diagnosis relies on clinical information as there are no lab tests for PPS and symptoms vary. There are no effective pharmaceutical treatments that can stop deterioration or reverse deterioration caused by PPS. Non-fatiguing exercises may improve muscle strength and reduce tiredness (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and

Post-Polio syndrome is a musculoskeletal problem which occurs after an individual has had polio (LaRocco, 2011). There are about 440, 00 people that survived polio (LaRocco, 2011). It is estimated that between 15% and 80% of people with polio will have post-polio syndrome. Post-polio syndrome generally occurs 15 years after the polio virus has subsided (LaRocco, 2011). The symptoms are muscle weakness, atrophy, pain, fatigue, and cold sensitivity. Fatigue can impair cognition as well as other symptoms (Grafman et al., 1995). The symptoms can come on slowly or quickly. Medications haven’t been proven to work well in treating the muscle symptoms, but rehabilitation may help (LaRocco, 2011). Pain and the psychiatric problems are important to control. Medication such as aspirin, hot pads and cold pads can help alleviate pain. Post-Polio syndrome is not usually life threatening (LaRocco, 2011).

Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 90% to 95% of infections cause no symptoms.[1] Another 5 to 10% of people have minor symptoms such as: fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, neck stiffness and pains in the arms and legs.[1][2] These people are usually back to normal within one or two weeks. In about 0.5% of cases there is muscle weakness resulting in an inability to move.[1] This can occur over a few hours to few days.[1][2] The weakness most often involves the legs but may less commonly involve the muscles of the head, neck and diaphragm. Many but not all people fully recover. In those with muscle weakness about 2% to 5% of children and 15% to 30% of adults

B. Signs and Symptoms: Approximately 95 percent of people who are infected with poliovirus will not have any symptoms, however, people who are infected and do not have any polio indicators can still spread the poliovirus. People who become infected with the poliovirus can start having symptoms as soon as four days after being infected, and not have any symptoms for as many as thirty five days. This time period between infection and experiencing symptoms is referred to as “The Incubation Period,” which is when the virus begins to multiply within the cells that line the back of the throat, nose, and intestines(“Signs and symptoms of Polio.” eMedtv.com. Clinaero Inc., 2006-2012. Sunday 4-22-12). For the

This disease has killed and paralyzed many. One of polio’s fatal symptoms is paralyzing muscles that help you breathe (“Polio Vaccine”).

Polio, full name poliomyelitis, has been a dangerous disease ever since its first appearance in the late 18th century. It has taken many people’s lives throughout the course of history. The virus’s shape is a circular-shaped agent which has spikes sticking out of various areas of this virus. Some interesting facts about this dangerous virus is that in the early and mid 1900s, there were at least 5,000-10,000 deaths per year, and vaccines didn’t come out until the 1950s. Also, today almost every country on Earth has eradicated this disease except for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, which shows how the vaccines were and are very essential to get rid of the disease for everyone. In addition, this disease was famous for infecting Franklin Delano Roosevelt.