post-polio syndrome

noun

post-po·​lio syndrome ˌpōs(t)-ˈpō-lē-ˌō- How to pronounce post-polio syndrome (audio)
variants or less commonly postpolio syndrome
: a condition that affects former polio patients long after recovery from the disease and that is characterized by muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue
The signs and symptoms of post-polio syndrome can include the onset of new muscle weakness in either affected or unaffected limbs.J. Keith Festa
The development of postpolio syndrome appears to be time-related, occurring between 25 and 40 years after recovery from the initial bout of infection.Marny K. Eulberg et al.

Examples of post-polio syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Similarly, people infected with polio in childhood, even those who escaped its worst effects, may get stricken decades later with post-polio syndrome, a debilitating muscle weakness. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 Topol noted that people who survived the 1918 influenza pandemic had an elevated risk of developing Parkinson’s disease years later, while some people who had polio in the first half of the 20th century developed a constellation of symptoms known as post-polio syndrome decades afterward. Amy Goldstein, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Aug. 2023 This is known as post-polio syndrome. Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2022 What is post-polio syndrome? Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022 To add insult to injury, some children went on to develop post-polio syndrome decades later, which can include muscle weakness, joint pain and feelings of mental and physical fatigue. Syra Madad, CNN, 13 Aug. 2022 Even children who seem to recover can suffer from post-polio syndrome years later as adults, which can include muscle pain, weakness, muscle atrophy and joint pain. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 1 Dec. 2022 For more information on post-polio syndrome, visit Post-Polio Health International. Andrea Kane, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022 People can develop post-polio syndrome decades after infection. Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'post-polio syndrome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of post-polio syndrome was in 1983

Dictionary Entries Near post-polio syndrome

postphragma

post-polio syndrome

postpone

Cite this Entry

“Post-polio syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post-polio%20syndrome. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

post-polio syndrome

noun
: a condition that affects former polio patients long after recovery from the disease and that is characterized by muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue

More from Merriam-Webster on post-polio syndrome

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!