 Poliomyelitis , often called polio or infantile paralysis , is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus . In about 0 @.@ 5 % of cases there is muscle weakness resulting in an inability to move . This can occur over a few hours to few days . The weakness most often involves the legs but may less commonly involve the muscles of the face , throat , or neck . The weakness may be so severe that it causes difficulty breathing . The weakness may be so severe that it causes difficulty breathing .
The weakness is a contagious disease that is spread through contact with the feces of an infected person . In 