What Is Polio?

By james

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

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Previous generations used to have to be a lot more aware of the chances of falling very ill than we are. This is because they did not have access to the same medical facilities and equipment that we had. They were more likely to catch diseases, and it was more likely to be very dangerous for them.

One thing that has helped to keep us safe from certain diseases was the introduction of the vaccine. These help to prepare our immune system so it is able to defeat pathogens whenever one might get into the body. There are numerous diseases so far that we have developed a vaccine for, one of which is polio.

1. Overview

Polio is a disease that is caused by the poliovirus. The disease has been largely eliminated in the US and other developed countries, but is still prevalent in other parts of the world. It is a very contagious disease, and care needs to be taken not to catch it when in certain parts of the world, particularly Africa and Asia.

The symptoms of the condition can range considerably. In some people, the symptoms are similar to the flu and the disease will cause little to no harm to them overall. In others, the symptoms can be very severe and can result in a fatality.