• The coronavirus pandemic is yet not over.
• And now, CDC has warned parents and doctors that there could be an outbreak of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) this year.
• This disease is rare and affects mainly children.

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But it could be fatal in some children. This severe neurologic disease that causes paralysis in patients peaks every two years and is likely to arrive in 2020.

Acute flaccid myelitis is likely to come this year

The severe neurologic disease called acute flaccid myelitis is likely to come this year, CDC has warned. The infection occurs in children and comes every two years. The last time it had affected children in 2018.

238 cases of AFM were found and reported to the CDC that year. It comes between August and November and is a life-threatening type of paralysis.

Though rare, parents and doctors should be aware of it and know to recognize its early signs and symptoms. This is important because the disease progresses rapidly in a matter of hours and days.

CDC has warned that it leads to permanent paralysis and also life-threatening respiratory failure.

CDC Director Robert Redfield and his statement

The Director of CDC, Robert Redfield said:

“As we head into these critical next months, CDC is taking necessary steps to help clinicians better recognize signs and symptoms of AFM in children,”

The health  organization has also revealed that the symptoms of AFM include current or recent respiratory infection, fever, pain or a feeling of numbness in the limbs, difficulty while walking, swallowing or talking.

There is associated neck pain or back pain and headache. Facial weakness is also noticed. Therefore, with sudden weakness of limbs in children a parent should seek immediate medical advice for their child.

The severely affected children are left with a permanent disability. The etiology is not known but since kids have a respiratory illness prior to the attack of paralysis, it is likely that a virus causes the disease.

Also, read CDC states that mild to moderate coronavirus patients can leave quarantine after 10 days!

More about AFM

Thomas Clark, deputy director of CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases stated:

“We’ve learned a lot but we have a lot to learn about AFM. We don’t yet know why certain kids develop AFM when the great majority who have respiratory illness recover with no neurologic symptoms,”

He added:

“Not understanding risk factors means I also can’t tell parents anything specific they can do to prevent AFM but it’s important to remember usual hygiene measures we recommend in respiratory virus season, including regularly washing hands and sanitizing frequently touched objects in addition to getting vaccinated for the flu.”

In 2018, median age of children affected was 5 years. 58% of these were males. 98% of the cases had required hospitalization that year. 54% of these were in the ICU. and 23% were on ventilatory support.

Thomas said:

“AFM is a medical emergency and any signs of limb weakness in their kids that develop suddenly, they need to take them to the doctor.”