What is Polio?
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/7/1/117146560/editor/poliovirus2-300x168.jpg?1517526253)
Polio is caused by the virus poliomyelitis. This is a very infectious disease that attacks the nervous system which can lead to paralysis. There are three strains of the virus: type 1, type 2, and type 3. [1]
The term poliomyelitis is Greek in origin. The virus affects the grey matter of the central nervous system (CNS). In Greek, "polio" means "grey" and "myelon" means "marrow. " [4]
The virus can affect the body in three different ways: [8] [khan]
For more information about the CNS visit the NCBI website.
Polio is caused by the virus poliomyelitis. This is a very infectious disease that attacks the nervous system which can lead to paralysis. There are three strains of the virus: type 1, type 2, and type 3. [1]
The term poliomyelitis is Greek in origin. The virus affects the grey matter of the central nervous system (CNS). In Greek, "polio" means "grey" and "myelon" means "marrow. " [4]
The virus can affect the body in three different ways: [8] [khan]
- Spinal
- most common
- attacks motor neurons of grey matter in the spinal column
- weakens or kills muscles in arms, legs, or torso
- Bulbar
- only some cases
- attacks the brain stem
- weakens muscles needed to breath
- Bulbospinal
- most rare
- combination of spinal and bulbar
- also affects parts of the cervical spinal cord and diaphragm
For more information about the CNS visit the NCBI website.
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/7/1/117146560/editor/fdr-exiting-car-1932.jpg?1517585745)
Today, it is widely known that president Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from polio.
There were many others who suffered and survived the effects of polio. (My uncle is one! He is alive and well, but walks with a limp due to a growth defect in one leg. He did undergoes many physical therapy treatments when he was a child.)
Here are just a few others who survived childhood polio: [12]
There were many others who suffered and survived the effects of polio. (My uncle is one! He is alive and well, but walks with a limp due to a growth defect in one leg. He did undergoes many physical therapy treatments when he was a child.)
Here are just a few others who survived childhood polio: [12]
- Alan Alda
- Roman Emperor Claudius
- Donald Sutherland
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Frida Kahlo
- Jack Nichlaus
- J. Robert Oppernheimer
- Neil Young
- Wilma Rudolph