Acute Flaccid Myelitis

AFM can be caused by viruses. Specimens collected from patients with AFM have detected coxsackievirus A16, enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) and antibodies specific to enteroviruses. These viruses generally cause mild illness and it is unclear why a small number of individuals develop AFM after viral infection.

Symptoms can progress rapidly and be life threatening. If you see potential symptoms of AFM, contact your health care provider right away. 

Most patients with AFM will have sudden onset of arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. Some patients may also experience:

• Difficulty moving the eyes
• Drooping eyelids
• Facial droop or weakness
• Difficulty swallowing or slurred speech
• Pain in arms or legs
• Pain in neck or back

Uncommonly, patients with AFM may experience numbness or tingling in arms or legs. The most severe symptoms of AFM include difficulty breathing due to muscle weakness and serious neurologic complications such as body temperature changes and blood pressure instability.

Clinicians diagnose AFM by taking a thorough medical history, doing a physical exam, and performing an MRI to review pictures of the spinal cord.

There is no specific treatment for AFM, but a neurologist may recommend certain interventions on an individual basis. If your clinician suspects your child has AFM, they should hospitalize your child immediately; AFM can progress rapidly and sometimes requires machines to help patients breathe.

Since AFM can develop after a viral infection, basic steps to avoid becoming infected with or spreading a virus includes:

• Staying home when sick
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Avoiding contact with individuals who are sick
• Frequent hand washing with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces