Spinal polio Commonly known as polio, poliomyelitis is an infectious viral disease that varies from mild to potentially life-threatening. The virus is spread from the feces of infected people to food, or by airborne transmission.
Worldwide, polio is rare, but it still occurs in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Polio usually produces no symptoms or only a mild, flulike illness.
Rarely, the spinal cord (spinal polio) or brain may be affected, which may cause paralysis or even death. People with nonparalytic polio are usually treated with bed rest and pain relievers. People with paralysis may also be treated with physical therapy, and, if breathing is affected, artificial ventilation.
People with nonparalytic polio make a full recovery, as do many with paralytic polio, although some are left with long-term disability and a few die.
A preventive vaccine is available, and is usually given combined with other vaccines, such as tetanus and diphtheria.

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