Question

Strategy Focus: Compare and Contrast

Good readers will compare while reading. The doctor told Peg that she had spinal polio and
respiratory polio. Explain the difference between the two by filling in the Venn diagram below.
Spinal Polio
Respiratory Polio

Answer 1

Spinal polio and respiratory polio are two different manifestations of the same viral infection caused by the poliovirus.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects the nervous system, especially in young children. The poliovirus is transmitted through contaminated food, water, or contact with an infected person's feces.

Spinal polio is the most common form of paralytic polio. It primarily affects the spinal cord and its motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis. The virus attacks and destroys nerve cells in the spinal cord, causing symptoms such as muscle pain, stiffness, and weakness. The hallmark symptom is asymmetrical muscle weakness, usually affecting the legs more than the arms. In severe cases, paralysis can occur, and it may be permanent.