Poliomyelitis
Alternate Names : Infantile Paralysis, Polio
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Poliomyelitis Diagnosis & Tests
Examination may shows signs of meningeal irritation (similar to meningitis), such as stiff neck or back stiffness with resistance to neck flexion. When sitting, the person may need to support the body with the arms.
The person may have difficulty lifting the head or lifting the legs from a supine position (lying flat, face up). Reflexes may be abnormal. The disorder may resemble encephalitis, and it may affect the cranial nerves and cause difficulty with facial expression, swallowing, chewing, and so on. It may also cause choking or difficulty breathing.
Viral cultures of throat washings, stools, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) confirm the diagnosis (see CSF collection). Routine CSF examination may be normal or show slight increase in pressure, protein, and white blood cells.
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