Acute Flaccid Myelitis: The Investigation Continues
The headlines of the past several weeks about kids with a polio-like illness have been pretty scary. The idea that a healthy child could suddenly be sidelined with extreme muscle weakness is a nightmare scenario for the parents of young children. While frustratingly little is known about acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), the good news is that it remains quite rare, affecting less than one in a million people in the U.S. each year.
According to the CDC, there have been a total of 404 confirmed cases of AFM in the U.S. since 2014, with a median age of eight years. The epidemiologic curve of cases indicates that the illness is seasonal, peaking in late summer and early fall. Oddly, the number of cases spiked in 2014, 2016, and 2018, while there were fewer cases during 2015 and 2017.
Signs and symptoms of AFM.
AFM often follows a respiratory illness or fever. Limb weakness (often unilateral) then occurs suddenly, progressing rapidly within hours or a few days. There may be facial muscle weakness, problems with eye movement, or speech or swallowing difficulties, but mental status generally is not affected. One death has been reported.
No clear cause.
Poliovirus, non-polio enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and West Nile virus are known to […]