Things to Understand About Poliomyelitis (Polio)
Because the name of the disease indicates, there is an infection/ inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord (Polios, grey + myelos, marrow + itis, inflammation), causing paralysis of the muscles of the body, especially of the limbs.
The disease remains common, although it will pe prevented by vaccination.
The poliovirus is an enterovirus, i.e. the virus proliferates within the intestine (enteron, intestine) of the patient concerned.
The infection occurs by ingestion of food/water contaminated with poliovirus, and also the faecal matter of a patient or a carrier (i.e. the one who carries the poliovirus within the gut, but will not show symptoms of the disease), is that the true source of infection.
Flies may play an vital role within the spread of the disease, thus that epidemics of poliomyelitis may be a lot of common in summer. But, sporadic cases also are seen.
Hence, upgrading hygienic conditions is a crucial side in the prevention of the disease.
The poliovirus might survive even for months in the sewage, i.e., in the waste matter in underground pipes or in numerous passages. More, the virus could be passing out in the faeces of patients/carriers for several months, therefore that the source of infection remains almost continuous, especially during an epidemic.
The poliovirus multiplies within the gut of the man, and other than passing out within the faeces, it reaches the spinal cord through the varied nerves. Or it could enter the blood stream and infect the spinal cord.
The virus has a specific affinity for the anterior horn cells (i.e. the motor nerve cells within the anterior horns) of the spinal wire, and inflammation/ injury of those cells is responsible for the paralysis of the muscles of the body. Since the anterior horns of the spinal cord are involved, the disease is additionally referred to as anterior poliomyelitis, and since the disease happens abruptly, it is more exactly known as acute anterior poliomyelitis.
In the whole spinal cord, 2 of its regions, i.e., the lumbar and also the cervical are mainly/sometimes concerned, and out of those 2 areas, the lumbar region is additional involved, thus that in an exceedingly case of poliomyelitis, the legs are additional involved than the arms.
Since solely motor nerve cells are concerned, there is no sensory loss/impairment within the concerned limb, in any of the cases of poliomyelitis.
But, besides the lumbar and cervical portions of the spinal wire, the thoracic portion of the cord could conjointly be broken, leading to the paralysis of the muscles of the thorax, causing issue in breathing. Even respiratory paralysis might occur, and the patient may be in an exceedingly state of grave emergency.
In addition to the spinal cord, the lower portion of the brain, i.e. the brain stem could be affected in a number of the cases. This may cause paralysis of the muscles of the face, of the larynx and of the throat, therefore that the patient might have each problem in speaking and in swallowing. When this happens, the patient's condition becomes very serious, and treatment of such cases is only attainable in a very well-equipped hospital.
Author Resource:
Conrad Hunt has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Duseases, you can also check out latest website about
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