Final answer:
Poliomyelitis typically causes asymmetric weakness, as the poliovirus causes inflammation in motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the body more than the other.
Step-by-step explanation:
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is caused by the poliovirus, which affects the nervous system and can lead to paralysis. The weakness associated with polio is typically asymmetric, meaning it affects one side of the body more than the other. This is due to the virus targeting motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord, causing inflammation and resulting in muscle weakness or paralysis that is often greater on one side of the body.
Poliomyelitis presents in various forms, with the majority of infections being asymptomatic. However, in more severe cases, where the virus infiltrates the central nervous system (CNS), it can lead to a range of symptoms, including muscle weakness or paralysis, which is asymmetrical.