Poliomyelitis, often called
polio or
infantile paralysis, is an
infectious disease caused by the
poliovirus. In about 0.5% of cases there is
muscle weakness resulting in an
inability to move. This can occur over a few hours to few days. The weakness most often involves the legs but may less commonly involve the muscles of the head, neck and
diaphragm. Many but not all people fully recover. In those with muscle weakness about 2% to 5% of children and 15% to 30% of adults die. Another 25% of people have minor symptoms such as fever and a sore throat and up to 5% have
headache, neck stiffness and pains in the arms and legs. These people are usually back to normal within one or two weeks. In up to 70% of infections
there are no symptoms. Years after recovery
post-polio syndrome may occur, with a slow development of muscle weakness similar to what the person had during the initial infection.