Infantile spinal paralysis, also known as poliomyelitis or simply polio, is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children. It is caused by the poliovirus, which is usually transmitted through fecal-oral route, contaminated water or food, or direct contact with an infected person. The virus primarily targets the nervous system, specifically the spinal cord, leading to paralysis of varying degrees in affected individuals.
Characterized by fever, sore throat, headache, and myalgia in its initial stages, infantile spinal paralysis progresses to cause muscle weakness, floppy limbs, and even complete paralysis. The virus attacks motor neurons located in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, resulting in the destruction of nerve cells responsible for muscle control. This leads to difficulties in movement, muscle atrophy, and in severe cases, respiratory failure or even death.
Although the majority of polio infections are asymptomatic or result in only mild symptoms, a small percentage of cases can experience permanent paralysis, particularly in the legs. Prior to the development of an effective vaccine, epidemics of infantile spinal paralysis were frequent and widespread, often causing significant morbidity and mortality. However, with the introduction of polio vaccines, including the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), the incidence of this disease has dramatically decreased worldwide.
In conclusion, infantile spinal paralysis, or polio, is a highly contagious viral infection primarily affecting children. It is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, resulting from the destruction of motor neurons in the spinal cord. The introduction of polio vaccines has greatly reduced the prevalence of this disease.
