Abortive poliomyelitis is best described as which of the following?

• A. Abortive poliomyelitis is a nonspecific febrile illness without neurological involvement.
• B. Abortive poliomyelitis presents with acute flaccid paralysis.
• C. Abortive poliomyelitis is meningitis with paralysis.
• D. Abortive poliomyelitis is severe respiratory failure.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that abortive poliomyelitis is the mild form of poliovirus infection with no neurological involvement. Patients experience a nonspecific febrile illness—fever, malaise, perhaps sore throat or mild GI symptoms—without signs of meningitis or paralysis. This distinguishes it from paralytic poliomyelitis, which shows acute flaccid paralysis due to motor neuron involvement, or from disease with meningitis or bulbar symptoms that can cause neurological signs or respiratory failure. Therefore, describing abortive poliomyelitis as a nonspecific febrile illness without neurological involvement best fits.