Diseases due to Viruses and Chlamydias

Abstract

ICD 045. Acute poliomyelitis. Fourth digit: 0, bulbar; 1, with other paralysis; 2, nonparalytic. Poliomyelitis is an acute infective disease due to Poliovirus hominis, an enterovirus, of three numbered types, infecting the human. The primary site of infection is the alimentary tract, infection passing from person to person by the fecal-oral route, especially under conditions of low hygiene; young children are frequently the means of spreading the infection, and there is rapid spread throughout a family after its introduction. The virus multiplies in the lymphoid tissues and follicles of the pharynx and small intestine or in the superficial mucosal cells of the same areas. The virus may persist in the intestine for many weeks; 50% of cases are still excreting the virus at the end of 3 weeks. Epidemics tend to appear in late summer. Some epidemics have been caused by contamination of the water supply by sewage.