Polio Information

• Polio

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.

• Cause of Polio

The cause of polio is an infection with the poliovirus. As this eMedTV article explains, poliovirus is a very contagious virus that can spread easily from person to person. This article takes an in-depth look at how it is transmitted.

• Poliovirus

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 poliovirus in detail, including information on its transmission, history, and possible eradication.

• Polio Transmission

Polio transmission most often occurs through contact with stool from an infected person. As this part of the eMedTV site explains, transmission also occurs through contact with respiratory droplets. This page discusses polio transmission in detail.

• Polio Incubation Period

The time between polio transmission and the start of polio symptoms is called the polio incubation period. This eMedTV segment explains that this period can be as short as 4 days or as long as 35. This page discusses the incubation period in detail.

• What Are the Symptoms of Polio?

Common signs and symptoms of polio include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and even paralysis. This eMedTV resource answers the question, "What are the symptoms of polio?" and offers a detailed list of common and uncommon polio symptoms.

• How Do You Diagnose Polio?

How do you diagnose polio? As this eMedTV article explains, in order to diagnose polio, the doctor will ask the patient several questions and perform a physical exam. This article takes an in-depth look at the process of diagnosing polio.

• Polio Treatment

As this eMedTV article explains, there is currently no treatment that can kill the poliovirus. Therefore, polio treatment focuses on providing relief of polio symptoms as the body fights the poliovirus. This page describes polio treatment in detail.

• Polio Prevention

Polio prevention is available through the polio vaccine. This selection from the eMedTV archives talks about the significance of the polio vaccine and discusses other methods of polio prevention, such as avoiding infected people.

• Cure for Polio

The only cure for polio is time; in most cases, the body is able to effectively kill the poliovirus. As this eMedTV Web page explains, polio prevention is available in the form of a vaccine. This page explains how prevention is the best "cure."

• Inactivated Polio Vaccine

Inactive polio vaccine is a type of medicine (given as a shot in the arm or leg) that prevents polio. As this eMedTV article explains, it is called inactive because it contains no live poliovirus. This Web page describes inactivated polio vaccine.

• Diseases Similar to Polio

Several conditions (including diphtheria and myasthenia gravis) can mimic the symptoms of polio. This eMedTV Web page offers a detailed list of diseases similar to polio in signs and symptoms.

• History of Polio

Polio goes back to records from antiquity; they mentioned diseases compatible with polio. As this eMedTV segment explains, the history of polio changed following the licensing of a polio vaccine in 1955. This page describes polio's history.