Recently, eight children in Washington State were diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). It is a rare condition that affects the central nervous system, specifically the spinal cord. It causes weakness in the arms or legs, and it can also produce facial drooping or weakness, difficulty moving the eyes, drooping eyelids, and trouble with speech or swallowing. As of September 2016, 89 people in 33 states had been confirmed with the illness, according to the CDC.
Diagnosis: If you think you or a family member has this condition, seek consultation with a medical provider. But how do you know whether AFM is causing the symptoms? A doctor may be able to make the diagnosis through a careful examination, and an MRI is sometimes helpful as well. Spinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, may be collected by a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) and can also aid in the diagnosis.
There are nerve tests that may help confirm the diagnosis, though they need to be done 7 to 10 days after the onset of illness.
Causes: A number of viruses have been thought to be possible causal agents, including enteroviruses (polio among them), West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and various adenoviruses.
AFM is not the only cause of weakness in the arms or legs. Other causes include viral infections, environmental toxins, genetic disorders, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Neurological conditions such as stroke (cerebrovascular accident) can also cause weakness in an arm or leg, or facial drooping, so it’s important to seek medical attention immediately and call 911 if you or someone you know develops these symptoms.
Treatment: No specific treatment exists for AFM. A neurologist may be consulted to help with the diagnosis and to make recommendations.
If you or your child is having problems walking or standing, or develops sudden weakness in an arm or leg, contact a medical provider right away.
I hope you have found this information useful. Wishing you the best of health,
Board Certified in Obesity Medicine and Family Medicine
This blog is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individual medical advice. Always consult your own physician before making changes to your health, medications, or treatment plan.
Blog: https://doctorrennie.wordpress.com
This information comes from the CDC website, About Acute Flaccid Myelitis.
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