Paralytic Poliomyelitis in an Unimmunized Child

Abstract

DESPITE the widespread benefit derived from live poliovirus vaccines, occasional cases of paralytic disease may occur following administration of attenuated poliovirus.¹Furthermore, paralytic poliomyelitis may rarely occur in intimate contacts of vaccinees.^2-8The following case illustrates the occurrence of poliomyelitis, apparently caused by a vaccine-like virus, in a child who had not recently received poliovirus vaccine nor had any known contact with an individual who had received vaccine. Report of a Case On July 5, 1968, a 5-year-old white boy developed fever, frontal headaches, stiff neck, and generalized myalgia. At the same time, his mother noted that he walked with a limp. Over the next two days, his right leg became progressively weaker until he was unable to walk. A physician was then consulted, and the patient was hospitalized. Significantly, this child had not received routine immunizations against poliovirus, but his mother thought he might have received two