EPIDEMIOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS ON AGE DISTRIBUTION OF PARALYTIC POLIOMYELITIS

Despite a declining trend of poliomyelitis due to high coverage of OPV , the age distribution of poliomyelitis cases have not shown any chang e over the years in India. More than 90 per cent of the cases have con tinued to occur in children below 5 years of age; the median age of ca ses remained below 2 years of age. The authors examined the issue and suggest that any major shift in age at paralysis may not occur in Indi a, in spite of high vaccine coverage with OPV unless there is concomit ant improvement in sanitation and hygiene.