Clinical Types of Poliovirus Infection

Description

A patient infected with poliomyelitis may present in a number of different ways.

Clinical Pattern	Manifestations
subclinical	no clinical signs or symptoms; seroconversion or demonstration of virus
abortive	fever, headache, sore throat (viral type syndrome)
nonparalytic poliomyelitis	signs of meningeal irritation (headache, meningismus) without paralysis
spinal paralytic poliomyelitis, minor illness phase	similar to abortive pattern, followed several days later by major illness
spinal paralytic poliomyelitis, major illness phase	preceded by minor illness; fever, headache, vomiting, meningitis with stiff neck, myalgias, flaccid paralysis with an asymmetrical distribution
bulbar paralytic poliomyelitis	cranial nerve palsy with dysphagia and/or nasal speech; dyspnea; cardiorespiratory failure
polioencephalitis	confusion, decreased level of consciousness, seizures, spastic (not flaccid) paralysis

where:

• The flaccid paralysis of spinal paralytic poliomyelitis involves the lower motor neurons. The spastic paralysis of polioencephalitis involves upper motor neurons.

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Clinical Types of Poliovirus Infection

Description

Specialty