Key Points More Information Poliomyelitis is an acute infection caused by a poliovirus (an enterovirus). Manifestations include a nonspecific minor illness (abortive poliomyelitis), sometimes aseptic meningitis without paralysis (nonparalytic poliomyelitis), and, less often, flaccid weakness of various muscle groups (paralytic poliomyelitis).

poliomyelitis. [ po″le-o-mi″ĕ-li´tis] an acute infectious disease occurring sporadically or in epidemics and caused by a virus, usually a poliovirus but occasionally a coxsackievirus or echovirus. Called also polio. Initial clinical characteristics include fever, sore throat, headache, and vomiting, often with stiffness of the neck and back.