Poliomyelitis-like diseases

Poliomyelitis-like diseases (synonym - parapoliomyelitis diseases) are a group of diseases that, in their clinical manifestations, resemble polio, but are caused by other viruses or toxins.

Poliomyelitis-like diseases include:

1. Enteroviral infections (caused by enteroviruses of the Coxsackie and ECHO group). Manifested by fever, meningitis, encephalitis and paralysis.

2. Botkin's disease (caused by the hepatitis A virus). Characterized by fever, jaundice and damage to the nervous system with paresis and paralysis.

3. Guillain-Barre syndrome (caused by cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, etc.). It manifests itself as bilateral paralysis of the limbs, impaired swallowing and breathing.

4. Tikoz - poisoning by poisonous plants, causing paralysis.

The diagnosis of polio-like diseases is made on the basis of clinical manifestations, blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests, and virological studies. Treatment is mainly symptomatic. The prognosis depends on the form of the disease.