polio

noun

po·​lio ˈpō-lē-ˌō How to pronounce polio (audio)
: an infectious disease especially of young children that is caused by the poliovirus

Note: Individuals infected with the poliovirus are often asymptomatic. In approximately 25% of cases, polio presents as a mild to moderate illness marked by headache, fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Polio affects the central nervous system only infrequently with inflammation and sometimes destruction of the motor neurons in the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain stem. Central nervous system involvement results in temporary or permanent muscle weakness or motor paralysis especially of the limbs and typically the legs. Polio may become life-threatening when paralysis affects the muscles involved in breathing and swallowing.

And the dreaded disease polio was virtually eliminated in 1955 when the Salk vaccine was approved for public use.Mary Beth Norton et al.
The longstanding quest to eradicate polio is attracting a new injection of funds from donors around the world, as health leaders grapple with obstacles from ridding conflict areas of the virus to a shortage of vaccine.Betsy McKay

called also infantile paralysis, poliomyelitis

see post-polio syndrome
polio-like adjective
or poliolike
a polio-like disease
polio-like paralysis

Examples of polio in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Paul developed polio in the summer of 1952 at the age of 6 and was paralyzed from the neck down. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 But the toll of living in an iron lung with polio did not stop Mr. Alexander from going to college, getting a law degree and practicing law for more than 30 years. Jesus Jiménez, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 But there would not have been a Salk vaccine without the work of Isabel Morgan, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University who discovered three subtypes of the virus and helped develop an experimental vaccine that protected monkeys against polio. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 Other diseases that are rare in the U.S., like polio, are still claiming victims. Paul Law, STAT, 12 Mar. 2024 In Broward County, where six cases of measles have been reported over the past week, about 92% of children in kindergarten had received routine immunizations against measles, chickenpox, polio, and other diseases. Amy Maxmen, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2024 Disability studies came of age alongside the last large generation of polio survivors. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2023 Many noted a personal experience in McConnell’s life: As a child, he was stricken with polio. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 Mar. 2024 Similarly, people infected with polio in childhood, even those who escaped its worst effects, may get stricken decades later with post-polio syndrome, a debilitating muscle weakness. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polio.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

short for poliomyelitis

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polio was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near polio

Cite this Entry

“Polio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polio. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

polio

noun
po·​lio ˈpō-lē-ˌō How to pronounce polio (audio)

Medical Definition

polio

noun
po·​lio ˈpō-lē-ˌō How to pronounce polio (audio)
: an infectious disease especially of young children that is caused by the poliovirus

Note: Individuals infected with the poliovirus are often asymptomatic. In approximately 25% of cases, polio presents as a mild to moderate illness marked by headache, fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Polio affects the central nervous system only infrequently with inflammation and sometimes destruction of the motor neurons in the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain stem. Central nervous system involvement results in temporary or permanent muscle weakness or flaccid paralysis of muscles especially of the limbs and typically the legs. Polio may become life-threatening when paralysis affects the muscles involved in breathing and swallowing.

Thanks to the Salk and Sabin vaccines, the specter of crippling polio that once made summers an apprehensive time for Americans has long since passed.People Weekly
While the last case of naturally occurring polio in the United States was in 1979, the disease remains prevalent in other areas of the world.Evan Johnson, The Addison County (Vermont) Independent

called also infantile paralysis, poliomyelitis

see post-polio syndrome

More from Merriam-Webster on polio

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