Polio Health Topics

Polio is a contagious illness that used to be very common in the United States. This selection from the eMedTV Web site provides an overview of polio, including its transmission, treatment, prevention, and history.

As this eMedTV article explains, post-polio syndrome is a condition that can affect polio survivors many years after recovery from an initial acute attack of the poliovirus. This resource takes an in-depth look at this topic.

Polio prevention is available through either an inactive or oral polio vaccine. This eMedTV page explains the differences between the two types and describes a typical vaccination schedule for children. A brief history of the disease is also included.

Poliovirus is a highly contagious virus that only affects humans; as this eMedTV article explains, it is also the cause of polio. This page describes the virus in detail, including information on its transmission, history, and possible eradication.