What is poliomyelytis?

Answer 1

Poliomyelitis is a viral disease caused by the poliovirus that can affect the nerves and lead to partial or full paralysis.

The virus enters the nose, mouth and multiplies in the throat and intestinal tract where it is absorbed and spread through the blood and lymph systems.

It has an incubation period of 5-35 days but on average 7-14 days from being infected to developing the disease. Most people do not have any symptoms.

The virus is spread in the following ways

1) Direct person to person contact

2) Contact with infected mucus or phelgm from the nose and mouth

3) Contact with infected faeces

Symptoms fall into 3 categories

1) Subclinical 2)Nonparalytic 3) Paralytic