Poliomyelitis (polio) is a disease caused by poliovirus. It happens mostly in children younger than 5 and in parts of the world that have not ...NowschedulingCOVID-19vaccinesforages12+andthirddosesforeligiblepatientsScheduleyourappointmentCOVID-19vaccineFAQsGoingtoaClevelandCliniclocation?NewvisitationguidelinesMasksrequiredforpatientsandvisitors(evenifyou'revaccinated)Home/HealthLibrary/Disease&ConditionsPolioPolioisadiseasecausedbypoliovirus.It’sbeeneliminatedintheUnitedStatesbecauseofwidespreadvaccination,butsomeareasoftheworldstillhavecases.It’simportantthateveryonegetaseriesofshotstoprotectagainstpolio.Thediseasecancauseparalysisorevendeath.Itcanalsoleadtopost-poliosyndromemanyyearslaterAppointments&AccessContactUsOverviewSymptomsandCausesDiagnosisandTestsManagementandTreatmentPreventionOutlook/PrognosisLivingWithPolioOverviewSymptomsandCausesDiagnosisandTestsManagementandTreatmentPreventionOutlook/PrognosisLivingWithBackToTopOverviewWhatispolio?Poliomyelitis(polio)isadiseasecausedbypoliovirus.Ithappensmostlyinchildrenyoungerthan5andinpartsoftheworldthathavenotyetseenwide-scalevaccination.Howcommonispolio?PolioisextremelyrareintheUnitedStatesandmanyothercountriesbecausemostpeoplehavegottenvaccinated.Inmanyplaces,poliovaccinationisstandardforchildren’shealthcareandoftenrequiredforkidstoattendschool.Butpolioremainsaprobleminsmallpocketsoftheworld.Untileveryonegetsvaccinated,thereisapossibilitythatpoliocanbecomeawidespreadproblemagain.TheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)continuestoworktoeliminatepolio.Howcommonareparalysisanddeathfrompolio?Ofevery200polioinfections,onecaseleadstoparalysis,usuallyinthelegs.About5%to10%ofpeopleparalyzedbypoliodiebecausetheycan’tusetheirmusclestobreathe.SomepeopleintheUnitedStateswhohadpolioearlyintheirlifestillneedcareforsymptomsmuchlaterinlife.SymptomsandCausesWhatcausespolio?Aviruscalledpolioviruscausespolio.Thevirusentersthebodythroughthemouthornose,gettingintothedigestiveandrespiratory(breathing)systems.Itmultipliesinthethroatandinte