Poliomyelitis: extinct by year 2000--but not over.

This is a comparative analysis of findings from a sample of individuals who had poliomyelitis with findings from seminal works on post polio syndrome. The sample included 148 individuals who developed poliomyelitis earlier in life. The findings are compared with the seminal studies of Halstead (1985a, 1985b). Seventy-two percent of the sample were experiencing post polio syndrome, defined as having progressive fatigue and one other symptom of sequelae to a moderate or severe degree. The mean age of the sample was 54. The majority of subjects had some college education, were married, belonged to support groups, and were employed. The mean age for contracting polio was 10.5, with a mean of 3.8 years to maximum recovery. At onset of the initial illness, 121 subjects were hospitalized. The period of stability from the point of maximum recovery to onset of sequelae had a mean of 29.8 years. Fatigue and muscle weakness at onset were predictive for developing sequelae. Subjects' lifestyle changes are reported. Implications focus on workplace issues. This study supports and extends the findings of the seminal works.