The disease that mimics polio is acute flaccid myelitis.
Acute flaccid myelitis is a rare but also serious neurological disease which is similar to polio and can cause paralysis and muscle weakness.
Symptoms of acute flaccid myelitis are sudden weakness in the legs and or arms, decreased or absent reflexes and sometimes facial drooping or facial weakness.
A fever or even viral infection may also occur before the weakness occurs with acute flaccid myelitis.
Acute flaccid myelitis can be caused by an infection with a type of virus known as an enterovirus.
Respiratory illnesses and fever from enteroviruses are common, especially in children.
Most people recover fully and it's not clear why some people with an enterovirus infection develop acute flaccid myelitis.
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) affects the nervous system, specifically the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the muscles and reflexes in the body to become weak.
Piperazine is a GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid) agonist at receptors on nematode muscles and causes flaccid paralysis.