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poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

1 9.4
A disease caused by a virus that attacks the nerves and often stops muscles working
  • noun
  • /ˌpɒli.oʊmaɪˈɛlɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : poliomielitis
  • To cast a wider net for poliovirus detection and to maximize sensitivity so that every poliomyelitis case is detected, in 2005, the Global Poliomyelitis Eradication Initiative adapted AFP as a surveillance tool and broadened the case definition of AFP in India.

Examples

  • Vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of poliomyelitis around the world.

  • Many could not believe that his splints and his theories of complete rest actually worked, and continued to favor surgical amputation to treat the main ailments of the day: skeletal tuberculosis, rickets, and poliomyelitis.

    Academic text (2010)
  • This work was supported in part by a grant from the Poliomyelitis Research Fund and WHO.

    Academic text (2013)
  • And today we'll be discussing poliomyelitis or polio for short.

  • Poliomyelitis could have affected three or four of his limbs and still allowed for recovery and functional adaptations.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Franklin Delano Roosevelt's battle with poliomyelitis is well known, but it was cerebrovascular disease that led to his death at age 63.

    Academic text (2014)
  • This disease, poliomyelitis, can lead to paralysis if not treated promptly during its early stages.

  • Detecting poliomyelitis early is crucial to prevent long-term health issues.

Synonyms

polio
vspoliomyelitis
  • Specialized
60 3.5

An illness caused by a virus that can cause fever and sometimes make parts of the body unable to move

is the same viral infection but more often results in paralysis
infantile paralysis
vspoliomyelitis
  • Archaic
1 6.5

A contagious disease caused by a virus that often makes children unable to move parts of their body

is the same illness but not limited to children

Compounds

A sudden viral illness that inflames nerve cells in the brain stem and spine and causes quick paralysis

A medicine taken by mouth that contains three weakened live polio viruses to protect against polio

Surface Forms

poliomyelitis singular

Morphology

poliomyelitis = myelitis (semi-transparent) = polio + myel + itis

The word is formed by attaching 'polio-' to 'myelitis' following medical naming patterns; 'polio' and '-itis' signal disease/inflammation but 'myel' (spinal cord) is technical, so the full meaning is only partially derivable for general learners.

Etymology

Poliomyelitis comes from Greek parts: polio 'grey', myel 'marrow' or 'spinal cord', and -itis 'inflammation'. So it means inflammation of the 'grey' part of the spinal cord, which explains why the disease can cause sudden weakness or paralysis and is often called polio.