Epidemic Acute Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects the nervous system, particularly the spinal cord and brainstem. It is caused by the poliovirus, which is usually transmitted through fecal-oral route or direct contact with an infected person's saliva or mucus.
The term "epidemic" indicates that the disease is spreading rapidly and affecting a large number of people within a specific population, region, or even globally. Acute refers to the sudden and severe onset of symptoms in an infected individual. Poliomyelitis refers to the inflammation of gray matter in the spinal cord (polio) and the suffix "myelitis" signifies inflammation.
The symptoms of epidemic acute poliomyelitis can range from mild, non-specific signs such as fever, sore throat, headache, and fatigue, to more severe manifestations including muscle weakness, paralysis, and respiratory difficulties. In severe cases, the virus can cause permanent disability or even death.
Although most individuals infected with poliovirus do not develop symptoms, a small fraction can experience paralysis, which may be temporary or permanent. These paralytic cases can either affect the lower limbs (paraplegia), the upper and lower limbs on one side of the body (hemiplegia), or all four limbs (quadriplegia).
The introduction of polio vaccines, especially the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), has significantly reduced the incidence of epidemic acute poliomyelitis worldwide. Vaccination campaigns and high population coverage are crucial to preventing the spread of poliovirus and eradicating the disease.
