Poliomyelitis

Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord. P., Acute Anterior, acute inflammation of the anterior horns of the matter of the spinal cord, leading to a destruction of the large multipolar cells of these horns. It is most common in children, coming on during the period of the first dentition and producing a paralysis of certain muscle groups or of an entire limb. The onset is sudden, and the paralysis is usually most extensive in the beginning, a certain amount of improvement taking place subsequently. There are no sensory disturbances. The affected muscles atrophy rapidly, the reflexes in them are lost, and reactions of degeneration are present. From contraction of antagonistic muscles deformities develop later in life. The disease is also known as Infantile Palsy. P., Chronic Anterior. Synonym of Progre ive Muscular Atrophy.