Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an uncommon and severe neurological illness that results in the weakness (flaccidity) of some muscles and reflexes. The symptoms can impair your capacity to breathe and appear quickly. Young children are most affected by the illness. One to four weeks before showing signs of acute flaccid myelitis, most kids suffer a minor respiratory infection or viral-induced fever. Symptoms can advance quickly. A ventilator may be required for breathing support during hospitalization.

Causes
Different viruses have the potential to cause AFM. The recent rise in children with this condition is believed to be due to enteroviruses. These pathogens cause fever and respiratory infections, especially in youngsters. Most people bounce back to good health in a couple of days or weeks. The reason some enterovirus-infected people get acute flaccid myelitis is unknown. Every other year, throughout the summer and fall, enterovirus D68 circulates in the country and is most frequently a respiratory infection. Other viruses, such as adenoviruses, herpesviruses, and flaviviruses, can also cause AFM.

Symptoms
Symptoms of AFM are the following:

• Sudden onset of limb weakness
• A sudden decline in muscular tone
• Unexpected lack of reflexes
• Facial weakening or droop
• Eye movement can be difficult
• Drooping eyelid
• Slurred speech or trouble swallowing
• Having difficulty urinating

AFM occasionally causes the respiratory muscles to become weak. Respiratory failure, which is highly serious, may result from this. If you experience this issue, you could require the assistance of a ventilator (breathing apparatus).

Diagnosis
AFM is an uncommon disorder that can be challenging for healthcare professionals to diagnose because it resembles other neurological conditions, including transverse myelitis. The doctor may use the following exams to determine whether you have this disease.

• A neurological examination that looks for areas of weakness, poor muscle tone, and slowed reflexes.
• Spinal cord and brain MRI scan
• Nerve conduction, electromyography (EMG), and testing on the cerebrospinal fluid are among the laboratory procedures. These tests examine the speed of the nerves and how quickly the muscles react to nerve instructions.

Treatment options
Acute flaccid myelitis has no known cause or treatment. Instead, the objective is to manage symptoms. While there is a lot of ambiguity regarding the long-term prognosis of children with AFM, specialists from all over the nation agree on one thing: early, rigorous rehabilitation is the most crucial form of therapy for kids with this disease. Functional electrical stimulation, standing and bearing weight, partial body weight-assisted gait training, and water therapy are all possible forms of treatment.

The doctor may also suggest utilizing immunoglobulin from healthy donors, corticosteroids, or antiviral therapies. Plasma exchange, which includes extracting and exchanging blood plasma, is one form of complementary treatment. However, it’s uncertain whether these are effective.

Prevention
AFM cannot be specifically avoided as the researchers aren’t sure of its cause yet. However, there are measures one undertake to decrease the risk of contracting the viruses, such as:

• Frequent handwashing with soap and water
• Avoiding using unwashed hands to touch the face
• Preventing direct touch with unwell persons
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and toys
• Using a tissue or the upper sleeve of the shirt, not your hands, to cover the mouth while coughing and sneezing
• Rest at home when ill