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1. (n.) poliomyelitis
an acute infectious disease of motor nerves of the spinal cord and brain stem, caused by a poliovirus and sometimes resulting in muscular atrophy and skeletal deformity: formerly epidemic in children and young adults, now controlled by vaccination.
Etymology: (1875–80; < Gk polió(s) gray (referring to the gray matter of the spinal cord) +myelitis)
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| Definition of 'poliomyelitis' |
Princeton's WordNet |
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1. (noun) poliomyelitis, polio, infantile paralysis, acute anterior poliomyelitis
an acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the brain stem and spinal cord
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| Definition of 'poliomyelitis' |
U.S. National Library of Medicine |
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1. poliomyelitis
An acute infectious disease of humans, particularly children, caused by any of three serotypes of human poliovirus (POLIOVIRUS). Usually the infection is limited to the gastrointestinal tract and nasopharynx, and is often asymptomatic. The central nervous system, primarily the spinal cord, may be affected, leading to rapidly progressive paralysis, coarse FASCICULATION and hyporeflexia. Motor neurons are primarily affected. Encephalitis may also occur. The virus replicates in the nervous system, and may cause significant neuronal loss, most notably in the spinal cord. A rare related condition, nonpoliovirus poliomyelitis, may result from infections with nonpoliovirus enteroviruses. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp764-5)
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Definitions of poliomyelitis 
