poliomyelitis
[ poh-lee-oh-mahy-uh-lahy-tis ]
/ ˌpoʊ li oʊˌmaɪ əˈlaɪ tɪs /
noun Pathology.
an acute viral disease, usually affecting children and young adults, caused by any of three polioviruses, characterized by inflammation of the motor neurons of the brain stem and spinal cord, and resulting in a motor paralysis, followed by muscular atrophy and often permanent deformities.
Origin of poliomyelitis
OTHER WORDS FROM poliomyelitis
po·li·o·my·e·lit·ic [poh-lee-oh-mahy-uh-lit-ik] /ˌpoʊ li oʊˌmaɪ əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjectiveWords nearby poliomyelitis
Example sentences from the Web for poliomyelitis
British Dictionary definitions for poliomyelitis
poliomyelitis
/ (ˌpəʊlɪəʊˌmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs) /
noun
an acute infectious viral disease, esp affecting children. In its paralytic form (acute anterior poliomyelitis) the brain and spinal cord are involved, causing weakness, paralysis, and wasting of muscle
Often shortened to: polio Also called: infantile paralysis
Word Origin for poliomyelitis
C19: New Latin, from Greek
polios grey +
muelos marrow
Medical definitions for poliomyelitis
poliomyelitis
[ pō′lē-ō-mī′ə-lī′tĭs ]
n.
A highly infectious viral disease that chiefly affects children and, in its acute forms, causes inflammation of motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to paralysis, muscular atrophy, and often deformity.
infantile paralysis
Scientific definitions for poliomyelitis
poliomyelitis
[ pō′lē-ō-mī′ə-lī′tĭs ]
A highly communicable infectious disease caused by the poliovirus of the genus Enterovirus that causes inflammation of motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to paralysis, muscular atrophy, and often disability and deformity. Childhood vaccinations are given to prevent infection. Also called polio
Cultural definitions for poliomyelitis
poliomyelitis
[ (poh-lee-oh-meye-uh-leye-tis) ]
An acute disease, and an infectious disease, caused by a virus, that brings about inflammation of certain nerve cells in the spinal cord. It can have a wide range of effects, from mild to severe, including paralysis, permanent disability, and death. In the United States, the disease has now largely vanished since the development of a vaccine against it. (See Sabin vaccine and Salk vaccine.)
notes for poliomyelitis
The history of polio, which went from a major public health problem to a minor one in a short time, is often used as an example of the benefits of medical research.
notes for poliomyelitis
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt suffered from poliomyelitis. During his presidency, he could not walk unaided.