Poliomyelitis (often simply called polio) is an acute viral

infection An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dis ...

that involves the gastrointestinal tract and occasionally the

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all p ...

Poliovirus A poliovirus, the causative agent of polio (also known as poliomyelitis), is a serotype of the species '' Enterovirus C'', in the family of ''Picornaviridae''. There are three poliovirus serotypes: types 1, 2, and 3. Poliovirus is composed of a ...

is acquired by faecal–oral or oral transmission. Prior to the introduction of a

polio vaccine Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all chi ...

in 1955, infection was common, with epidemics during the summer and autumn of

temperate countries In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

. Polio eradication efforts have reduced the number of estimated polio cases worldwide by more than 99% since the mid-1980s. Most infections are asymptomatic; a small number cause a minor illness that is indistinguishable from many other viral illnesses; less than 1% result in acute flaccid paralysis. This article lists people who had the paralytic form of polio. The extent of paralysis varies from part of a limb to quadriplegia and

respiratory failure Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a rise ...

. The latter was often treated with an

iron lung An iron lung is a type of negative pressure ventilator (NPV), a mechanical respirator which encloses most of a person's body, and varies the air pressure in the enclosed space, to stimulate breathing.Shneerson, Dr. John M., Newmarket Genera ...

. Around 30–40 years after contracting paralytic poliomyelitis, about 25–40% of cases lead to

post-polio syndrome Post-polio syndrome (PPS, poliomyelitis sequelae) is a group of latent symptoms of poliomyelitis (polio), occurring at about a 25–40% rate (latest data greater than 80%). These symptoms are caused by the damaging effects of the viral infection ...

. Symptoms include muscle pain, further weakening of muscles and paralysis. Surviving paralytic polio can be a life-changing experience. Individuals may be permanently physically

disabled Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, ...

to varying degrees. Others remember the fear and isolation. Some continue to campaign for polio eradication and

disability rights The disability rights movement is a global social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunities and equal rights for all people with disabilities. It is made up of organizations of disability activists, also known as disability advocat ...

Uncontested diagnosis

This categorised alphabetical list contains people with a firm and uncontested diagnosis made while still alive.

Acting

Business

Disability rights activists

Film, television and radio

Literature

Music

Politics

Science, engineering and medicine

Sports

Visual arts

Miscellaneous

Retrospective diagnosis

The following people were not diagnosed with polio during their lifetime. A

retrospective diagnosis A retrospective diagnosis (also retrodiagnosis or posthumous diagnosis) is the practice of identifying an illness after the death of the patient (sometimes in a historical figure) using modern knowledge, methods and disease classifications. Altern ...

is speculative and can never be certain.

Doubtful diagnosis

The following people may have had polio, but there is disagreement over it. Rooseveltinwheelchair

Mistakenly believed to have survived polio

The following people are often reported to have had polio, but their own statements or other evidence contradict this.

Notes

References

{{featured list Poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis