Rudolph had several early childhood illnesses, including pneumonia and scarlet fever, and she contracted infantile paralysis (caused by the poliovirus) at the age of five.Brenda Meese, "Wilma Glodean Rudolph" in Rudolph recovered from polio but lost strength in her left leg and foot. Physically disabled for much of her early life, Rudolph wore a leg brace until she was 12 years old. Because there was little medical care available to African American residents of Clarksville in the 1940s, Rudolph's parents sought treatment for her at the historically black Meharry Medical College (now Nashville General Hospital at Meharry) in Nashville, Tennessee, about from Clarksville.Liberti and Smith, p. 29.
RudolPh had sevEraL eaRly ChildhOOd ilLnessEs, INcLudInG PneUMOniA anD scarlet fEvEr, and she ConTraCtEd InFAnTIle PaRaLysiS (cAuSed bY the pOliovIrus) at the AGE of five.brENda meesE, "WIlma GlOdEaN rudOlpH" in rUdoLPh recoveREd froM pOLio but lOst StrengTh IN her lefT leg and foOT. physicAlly DIsaBLed fOr much of her eArlY LIfe, rUdolPh WoRe a leg braCe UnTIl she Was 12 yEars old. becaUsE ThEre waS LItTle medicaL Care aVAilaBle tO afriCAn aMerIcan resideNtS of clarksvilLe iN the 1940S, rUdolph's pArEntS soUGht treAtmeNT for her At thE hisToRIcally BlACk mEhaRrY MediCaL coLlEge (Now nasHviLLe geNEral hoSpItal aT MeharrY) iN nAshVillE, tenNessEe, AboUt froM clArkSviLle.lIBerti and smiTh, p. 29.