What is Acute Flaccid Myelitis?
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Children's Hospital infectious disease specialist, Dr. John Schieffelin, discusses Acute Flaccid Myelitis.
AFM typically circulates in our community between August and November following more common respiratory viral infections and diarrehal diseases.
This is a rare neurological condition that affects the nervous system and relaxes the muscles to where the body becomes weak.
Most cases have been circulating in young children, and the cases in the U.S. have increased every other year starting in 2014.
The best advice for parents is to keep an eye on any major change that you notice in your child’s health.
Fever, pain, numbness in the limbs, back pain, and gait difficulty are a few of the symptoms AFM patients will experience.
Contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms occur.
