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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Oct 2.
Published in final edited form as: Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Dec;29(4):651–665. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.07.003

Table 1.

Clinical description of poliomyelitis

Consequence Symptoms Infections (%)
Inapparent infection without symptoms None 72
Minor illness Transient illness; 1–3 d fever, malaise, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or sore throat, in various combinations 24
Nonparalytic poliomyelitis (aseptic meningitis) Minor illness characterized as fever, sore throat, vomiting, malaise; 1–2 d later stiffness of neck or back; vomiting, severe headache, pain in limbs, back neck (lasts 2–10 d, recovery is usually rapid and complete) 4
Paralytic poliomyelitis Minor illness for several days, symptom-free period of 1–3 d, followed by rapid onset of flaccid paralysis with fever and progression to maximum extent of paralysis within a few days <1

Data from Sutter RW, Kew OM, Cochi SL, et al. 28 - Poliovirus vaccine—live. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, editors. Vaccines (sixth edition). London: W.B. Saunders; 2013. p. 598–645.