infantile paralysis
/'infəntailpə'rælisis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An acute viral disease: A serious infectious illness caused by a virus, characterized by sudden onset and short duration.
- Marked by inflammation of nerve cells: The primary effect of the disease is the swelling and damage to neurons.
- Of the brain stem and spinal cord: The inflammation specifically targets these crucial parts of the central nervous system, which can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The development of a vaccine was a major breakthrough in the fight against infantile paralysis.
- Before widespread immunization, outbreaks of infantile paralysis were greatly feared by parents.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Medical Term: The term "infantile paralysis" is now largely historical and clinical. It emphasizes the disease's historical association with affecting children, though it can infect adults.
- The president's struggle with infantile paralysis shaped his life and policies.
Variants and Related Words
- Poliomyelitis (n): The formal medical name for the same disease, often shortened to "polio." This is the more common term in modern usage.
- Poliomyelitis and infantile paralysis refer to the same condition.
- Polio (n): The common abbreviated form of poliomyelitis.
- The polio vaccine has nearly eradicated the disease globally.
Synonyms
- Poliomyelitis: The formal synonym.
- Polio: The common, abbreviated synonym.
Notes on Usage
- The term "infantile paralysis" is less common in everyday modern English, having been largely replaced by "polio" or "poliomyelitis." It is still used in historical contexts or specific medical discussions to refer to the disease's characteristic symptom of causing paralysis, particularly in young patients.
Noun
- an acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the brain stem and spinal cord