acute anterior poliomyelitis

poliomyelitis /po·lio·my·eli·tis/ (-mi″ĕ-li´tis) an acute viral disease usually caused by a poliovirus and marked clinically by fever, sore throat, headache, vomiting, and often stiffness of the neck and back; these may be the only symptoms of the minor illness. In the major illness, which may or may not be preceded by the minor illness, there is central nervous system involvement, stiff neck, pleocytosis in spinal fluid, and perhaps paralysis; there may be subsequent atrophy of muscle groups, ending in contraction and permanent deformity.

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abortive poliomyelitis  the minor illness of poliomyelitis.

acute anterior poliomyelitis  the major illness of poliomyelitis.

ascending poliomyelitis  poliomyelitis with a cephalad progression.

bulbar poliomyelitis  a severe form affecting the medulla oblongata, which may result in dysfunction of the swallowing mechanism, respiratory embarrassment, and circulatory distress.

cerebral poliomyelitis  poliomyelitis that extends into the brain.

spinal paralytic poliomyelitis  the classic form of acute anterior poliomyelitis, with the appearance of flaccid paralysis of one or more limbs.

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acute anterior poliomyelitis

n.

An acute infectious inflammation of the anterior cornua of the spinal cord caused by the poliomyelitis virus and marked by fever, pains, and gastroenteric disturbances, flaccid paralysis, and atrophy of muscular groups. Also called Heine-Medin disease.

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acute anterior poliomyelitis,

See acute infectious paralysis.