Polio- “Infantile Paralysis”

Since 1894, when the first large-scale epidemic hit in Vermont, the poliomyelitis virus plagued our country.  Its effects throughout the world have been documented from at least Egyptian times. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 10-20 million polio survivors, worldwide. In the United States there are perhaps 350,000 of us still alive.

Polio epidemics were widespread in the 1900’s which was a highly communicable disease that spread rapidly among children under five-years-old, although anyone can contract it. The virus invades the spinal cord and attacks motor neurons that talk to muscles, typically of the lower limbs. Ninety percent of those contracting the virus are asymptomatic, another 4-8% show muscular deformities, 1-2 % are paralyzed, end up in hospitals, iron lungs, wheel chairs, and make the nightly news.

We all know the story of the March of Dimes crusade, the work of Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin in the 1950’s that led to widespread vaccination campaigns that, over time, have been magnificently successful eradicating the disease.

To paint a picture of how it was before the vaccines: Richard Rhodes, A Hole in the World. 1990

“One day a headache, an hour later paralyzed. How far up your spine the virus traveled determined whether you could walk, or breathe. Parents waited every summer to see if it would strike. One case turned up , and then another. The count began to climb. The city closed the swimming pools and we all stayed home, cooped indoors, shunning other children. Summer seemed like winter then.”

Epidemics peaked in the US in 1952, when about 58,000 were infected, 3,000 died and 21,000 were left with mild to disabling paraysis.

In 1979, polio was declared eradicated in the United States.

Post Polio Syndrome 

Post-Polio Syndrome is a non-contagious “echo” of the original affliction. It shows up decades after the original infection. It is rarely deadly, though the effects may be profound.

What does it look like?

- Slow progressive muscular weakness in the muscles originally affected.

- Fatigue

- Muscle atrophy

- Joint degeneration

- Scoliosis

- Repsiratory muscle weakness

- Aspiration and pneumonia

Why the re-visitation?

Theory is that the motor neurons that were initially affected in the spinal cord and brain stem wearout, fatigued from overworking. Those that make the most progress with recovery seem to be the group most likely to be affected by PPS.

Who is prone to PPS?

1994-1995 NIH survey of 1 million polio survivors found that 443,000 were paralyticly afflicted to some degree. The rough estimate used is 25-40% of polio survivors will encounter PPS.

Is there a cure…no

Is there a vaccine…no

Do we need continued R&D… yes

Consider : 10-20 million polio survivors world-wide (WHO)

15,000,000 x 25% x 3,750,000 survivors subject to PPS

There may only be 33 cases of documented polio last year in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the secondary effects of the disease are large.