poliomyelitis

Although acute poliomyelitis and polio-like conditions may occasionally simulate Guillain-Barre syndrome (29), our cases had several clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic features that differed from typical Guillain-Barre syndrome (30-32; Table 4).

In the cases of WNV-associated AFP, clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiologic findings suggested pathology localized to anterior horn cells and motor axons, similar to that seen in acute poliomyelitis. All six patients had acute onset of asymmetrical weakness without pain or sensory loss, and four of five who had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis had pleocytosis.

Previous case series have attributed WNV infection--associated AFP to a peripheral neuronal process similar to GBS; acute poliomyelitis might simulate GBS, causing diagnostic confusion (7).

Today, there are approximately 1.63 million Americans living who survived acute poliomyelitis.[8] Most polio survivors are 45-54 years of age.[11] They have survived to be educated, have jobs, raise families, and be productive citizens.

Acute poliomyelitis rarely occurs now in the United States because of the Salk and Sabin vaccines, which were introduced between 1955 and 1960.