What does poliomyelitis mean?
Poliomyelitis is an acute viral disease caused by the poliovirus. Although most infections produce no symptoms or mild illness, the virus can attack motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain, sometimes causing weakness, paralysis, or permanent disability. Children were historically the most commonly affected group, which contributed to the disease's familiar name, infantile paralysis. The word is now less prominent in everyday language because the introduction and widespread use of vaccines greatly reduced infections, although eradication efforts continue. In medicine, poliomyelitis may be classified as paralytic or nonparalytic, reflecting whether the nervous system is affected in a way that impairs movement. The common shortened term polio is especially common in references to vaccination, campaigns against the disease, and its history. Even in regions where the disease has been eliminated, it remains an important public-health concern because any sustained transmission could allow the virus to spread again.
nounAn acute infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, most often affecting children. It can damage motor neurons and lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
- An acute viral infection, especially of children, that may affect the nervous system and cause paralysis.
"The campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis relied on widespread vaccination and careful monitoring of transmission."
"Clinicians classified the patient's illness as nonparalytic poliomyelitis."
"Public-health officials expanded vaccination after renewed cases of poliomyelitis were reported."
The plural is rarely needed because the word normally names a disease; writers more often say cases of poliomyelitis.
"The two poliomyelitides were classified as paralytic and nonparalytic."
Before vaccination, poliomyelitis could leave children paralyzed for life; the Salk vaccine, licensed in 1955, transformed the fight against the disease.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poliomyelitis come from?
The word comes from Greek polios, meaning many, and myelos, meaning marrow, together with the suffix -itis, denoting inflammation. The expression originally referred to inflammation of the spinal cord and came to name the disease because many cases could produce paralysis. The modern shortening polio was derived from the longer medical term and became widely established in the 20th century.
Related word forms
How poliomyelitis is actually used
In medicine, the full name is used when discussing the disease or its diagnostic categories; in general use, the shortened form is much more common. The term is now chiefly encountered in vaccination, public-health, and historical contexts.
Easily confused with poliomyelitis
Polio is the common shortened name for poliomyelitis and is also used informally in vaccination contexts.