poliomyelitis

[ poh-lee-oh-mahy-uh-lahy-tis ]

/ ˌpoʊ li oʊˌmaɪ əˈlaɪ tɪs /

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noun Pathology.

an acute viral disease, usually affecting children and young adults, caused by any of three polioviruses, characterized by inflammation of the motor neurons of the brain stem and spinal cord, and resulting in a motor paralysis, followed by muscular atrophy and often permanent deformities.

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Also called acute anterior poliomyelitis, infantile paralysis, polio.

Origin of poliomyelitis

1875–80; <New Latin <Greek polió(s) gray + New Latin myelitismyelitis

OTHER WORDS FROM poliomyelitis

po·li·o·my·e·lit·ic

[poh-lee-oh-mahy-uh-lit-ik], /ˌpoʊ li oʊˌmaɪ əˈlɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby poliomyelitis

policyowner, policy science, Polignac, polio, polioencephalitis, poliomyelitis, polio vaccine, poliovirus, polis, Polisario, poli sci

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use poliomyelitis in a sentence

Poliomyelitis almost did him in, but decided instead to simply paralyze his left arm and leg.
Dead Cool: Ian Dury|Simon Doonan|April 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The child in the next bed had just become paralyzed by an attack of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis).
The Necessity of Atheism|Dr. D.M. Brooks
Not once were these investigators again able to transmit the infection of poliomyelitis through Stomoxys.
Handbook of Medical Entomology|William Albert Riley
Soon after this, Kling and Levaditi published their detailed studies on acute anterior poliomyelitis.
Handbook of Medical Entomology|William Albert Riley

In spite of these precautions, all their results were negative, none of the inoculated animals having contracted poliomyelitis.
Handbook of Medical Entomology|William Albert Riley
Attempts to transmit poliomyelitis by means of the stable-fly (Stomoxys calcitrans).
Handbook of Medical Entomology|William Albert Riley

British Dictionary definitions for poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

/ (ˌpəʊlɪəʊˌmaɪəˈlaɪtɪs) /

noun

an acute infectious viral disease, esp affecting children. In its paralytic form (acute anterior poliomyelitis) the brain and spinal cord are involved, causing weakness, paralysis, and wasting of muscleOften shortened to: polio Also called: infantile paralysis

Word Origin for poliomyelitis

C19: New Latin, from Greek polios grey + muelos marrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

[ pō′lē-ō-mī′ə-lī′tĭs ]

A highly communicable infectious disease caused by the poliovirus of the genus Enterovirus that causes inflammation of motor neurons of the spinal cord and brainstem, leading to paralysis, muscular atrophy, and often disability and deformity. Childhood vaccinations are given to prevent infection. Also called polio

Cultural definitions for poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis

[ (poh-lee-oh-meye-uh-leye-tis) ]

An acute disease, and an infectious disease, caused by a virus, that brings about inflammation of certain nerve cells in the spinal cord. It can have a wide range of effects, from mild to severe, including paralysis, permanent disability, and death. In the United States, the disease has now largely vanished since the development of a vaccine against it. (See Sabin vaccine and Salk vaccine.)

notes for poliomyelitis

The history of polio, which went from a major public health problem to a minor one in a short time, is often used as an example of the benefits of medical research.

notes for poliomyelitis

President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered from poliomyelitis. During his presidency, he could not walk unaided.