Poliomyelitis, or simply Polio, is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by three types of poliovirus. The poliovirus is a virus that destroys nervous ...PayYourBillMyChildren'sPatientPortalInternationalVisitorsWaystoHelpCareersDonateDonateForPatientsForHealthCareProfessionalsPrograms&ServicesConditions&TreatmentsResearchInnovationCloseForPatientsForHealthCareProfessionalsPrograms&ServicesConditions&TreatmentsResearchInnovationInternationalVisitorsWaystoHelpCareersDonateDonatePayYourBillMyChildren'sPatientPortalConditionsContacttheDivisionofInfectiousDiseases617-354-2900Fax617-730-0911RequestAnAppointmentRequestASecondOpinionContacttheDivisionofInfectiousDiseases617-354-2900Fax617-730-0911RequestAnAppointmentRequestASecondOpinionNavigationOverviewSymptoms&CausesTesting&DiagnosisTreatmentsProgramsandServicesPoliomyelitisSymptoms&CausesWhatispoliomyelitis?Poliomyelitis,orsimplyPolio,isahighlycontagiousinfectiousdiseasecausedbythreetypesofpoliovirus.Thepoliovirusisavirusthatdestroysnervoussystemcausingparalysis.TypesofpoliomyelitisAbortivepoliomyelitis:Themildestform.Nonparalyticpoliomyelitis:Symptomsaremoreseverethanabortive,butnotasbadasparalytic.Paralyticpoliomyelitis:Themostsevere;mayresultinpermanentparalysisofcertainmusclegroups,includingbreathingmusclesandlegmuscles.Whatcausespoliomyelitis?Thepoliovirusspreadsmostoftenfromfecal-oralcontact.Usually,thisoccursfrompoorhandwashingorfromconsumingofcontaminatedfoodorwater.Sneezingorcoughingalsospreadsthevirus.Yourchildismostcontagiousimmediatelybeforeanysymptomsshowupandsoonaftertheyappear.Ispoliomyelitiscommon?Sincetheadventofthepoliovaccineduringtheearly1950s,infectionsfromthepoliovirushavenearlybeeneradicated.Infact,therehavebeennoknowninfectious,or"wild,"casesofpoliointheUnitedStatessince1979.Thatsaid,polioisstillaprobleminpoor,undevelopedcountries.Infantsandchildrenareatthegreatestriskandinfectionsaremostcommonduringsummerandfall.Whatarethesymptomsofpoliomyelitis?About90to95percentofpeoplewhodogetinfect