the 1950 outbreak occurred, older children contracted the primary infection, with more severe forms of the disease. It is believed that less boosting of immunity due to natural exposure helped lead to the occurrence of this polio outbreak. Older children and adults, with no build-up of immunity, were struck by polio in the 1950s.
An additional factor leading to the 1950s outbreak was the baby boom experienced at that time; the population increased more during that time period than it had from 1917 to 1947. This coupled with a lack of natural immunity, is thought to have led to the 1950s polio outbreak that resulted in 13,000 to 20,000 paralytic cases of polio reported annually.
Polio affected the victims, their families, and the entire community. Authorities believe that it is possible that 80% of the U.S. population have had poliomyelitis at some time or another, but that the virus went unnoted since it did not result in paralysis. Minor illness associated with this disease typically lasts 24 hours, is more commonly found in children, and includes fever, headache, vomiting, sore throat, and listlessness.
Major illness refers to paralytic and nonparalytic poliomyelitis. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, severe headache, sudden onset, extremity pain, and stiff and sore back, neck, and hamstring muscles. Lesions develop in the central nervous system and result in neurologic symptoms. Nonparalytic aseptic meningitis includes all of the symptoms of the minor illness, and may also include abnormal or increased sensations. Symptoms usually last from 2 to 10 days and recovery is complete.
Around half of the major illness patients suffer from paralytic poliomyelitis. Spinal paralytic poliomyelitis is a classic form which presents flaccid paralysis. Legs, arms, back, thorax, face, intercostal region, and diaphragm are commonly paralyzed (listed in order of frequency). Bulbar poliomyelitis is the most serious and oc...