polio

UK: ˈpəʊliəʊ | US: ˈpoʊlioʊ

Definition

  1. n. a highly infectious viral disease, especially affecting children, that can lead to paralysis.

Structure
polio <gray>myel <marrow>
Etymology

The word "polio" is a shortened form of "poliomyelitis," derived from Greek roots:

  • "polio" (πολιός) means "gray," referring to the gray matter of the spinal cord.
  • "myel" (μυελός) means "marrow," indicating the spinal cord's involvement.
    The term reflects the disease's impact on the nervous system, specifically the gray matter of the spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis. Over time, "polio" became the common shorthand for the condition.
Examples

  1. Vaccination campaigns have nearly eradicated polio worldwide.

  2. The polio virus primarily affects children under five.

  3. She contracted polio as a child but regained mobility through physical therapy.

  4. Researchers developed the first effective polio vaccine in the 1950s.

  5. Global efforts to eliminate polio continue in a few endemic regions.