9 Childhood Diseases Boomers Remember That Are No Longer an Issue

It’s often said that growing up in the 1950s was a simpler time. Indeed it was for the most part, but children of the boomer generation had their fair share of childhood illnesses to dodge. These days, America has a childhood vaccination schedule that is designed to help children avoid unnecessary deadly illnesses so they can enjoy healthy lives. Here are some of the most notable childhood diseases that boomers faced when they were children — all of which are either completely eradicated or no longer a threat.

Measles

Also known as rubeola, this virus is highly contagious and is spread via coughs, sneezes or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, a signature rash, and red, watery eyes among others. Measles was almost completely eradicated in the year 2000 thanks to modern vaccines, but as recently as 2022, there were 120 reported cases of measles in the United States.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is a bacterial infection caused by strep infection. Symptoms include a red, bumpy rash as well as a sore throat, fever and a “strawberry tongue.” Most common in ages 5-15 years, scarlet fever was once a very serious illness, modern medicine in the form of antibiotics make it treatable.

Diphtheria

A bacterial disease of the nose and throat, diphtheria is extremely rare these days thanks to vaccination. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. It’s highly contagious and deadly if left untreated.

Mumps

Mumps is a viral illness that’s spread via airborne droplets. Symptoms include upset stomach, vomiting, swollen glands and cheeks, fever, and headache among others. While mumps are considered rare in the U.S., outbreaks do still happen due in large part to the vaccine efficacy wearing off over time.

Polio

Polio is now a preventable viral disease, but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that a vaccine became available. Prior to that, polio was the cause of paralysis and/or death in hundred of thousands of children each year. Spread through contaminated water or food, a polio diagnosis often meant a life relegated to an iron lung. Polio is no longer an issue in America thanks to modern medicine.

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is known for its signature “whoop” sound when the person coughs. Additional symptoms include watery eyes, nasal discharge and sneezing, and often blue lips and nailbeds due to oxygen loss during coughing fits. A vaccine was invented in the 1950s that became part of children’s vaccine regimens.

Smallpox

Though smallpox was eradicated in the United States in 1972, prior to that time, this viral disease impacted millions of people around the world each year. Symptoms included high fever, blistering rash, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Rheumatic Fever

Rheumatic fever was an inflammatory disease caused by group A strep. Known to affect the heart, joints, brain, and skin, rheumatic fever was an extremely painful disease that killed approximately 22,000 people annually in the 1950s. Thanks to the development of antibiotics to treat strep, rheumatic fever is largely non-existent in the U.S.

Rubella

Also known as German measles, rubella is a viral infection that is spread through airborne droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. The virus causes a splotchy red rash and joint pain. The disease was declared eliminated from the United States in 2004 thanks to vaccinations. Those who are not vaccinated against is, though, are still at risk of getting it, likely during international travel.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Kurt Hutton/ via Getty Images.

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