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Authorities confirmed that the number of children struck by acute flaccid myelitis (AM) in the United States rose to 116.
Thirty-one states reported cases of misunderstood disease, which can cause paralysis and, in rare cases, be fatal.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently investigating another 170 cases of people with symptoms suggestive of AFM.
There have already been more than three and a half times of cases. like last year, but doctors remain perplexed as to the cause of the disease.
. Colorado, with 15 confirmed cases, has been the most affected state so far this year, closely followed by Texas, with 14 people diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis. A total of 31 states have seen people – mostly children – affected by the disease, 19 of which have not yet been affected
The CDC has published its latest figures, showing that 286 people have had flaccid acute myelitis (AFM ) in 31 states and 116 of these cases were confirmed.
More than 90% of people affected by the disease are under 18 years old and the average age of patients is four years.
a combination of viruses and children usually show the first signs of fever and cough for three to ten days.
But after the flu-like illness, the AFM can suddenly leave people paralyzed for life, or even be deadly.
The AFM was termed polio-like disease because of its resemblance to viral infection, which affected hundreds of thousands of people in the mid-1900s.
It is thought that it is unlikely that the disease is contagious between people, but it could be caused by viruses that spread easily.
Last week, the CDC set up a specialized task force to tackle the disease by researching its causes and finding ways to treat it.
Most affected affected state, with 15 cases, followed by Texas with 14.
WHAT IS ACUTE FLACCID MYELITIS (AFM)?
The term "myelitis" refers to inflammation of the spinal cord.
Transverse myelitis is the generic term.
This is a neurological disorder that inflamed the entire spinal cord ("transverse"), destroying the fat that protects the nerve cells.
paralysis.
AFM is an unusual subtype of cross-cutting problems. myelitis.
Patients start with the same inflammation of the spine, but their symptoms are different and the disease evolves differently.
The main distinction is that patients with MAF are weak and lame, whereas patients with general transverse myelitis tend to be rigid.
Most AFM patients begin to have trouble moving limbs, face, tongue, and eyes
. They then begin to lose control of a limb or sometimes the whole body – even though many keep control of their senses, intestines and muscles. Bladder functions.
Unlike transverse myelitis, which has been around for years, doctors still do not know why and how the AFM is manifesting itself.
After those of Washington, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Illinois has eight. with seven, and New Jersey and Wisconsin with six
There have been three state-confirmed cases in Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and Maryland, and two in Maine, the New York, the Carolinas, Kentucky and Iowa. [1 9659002] The states of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Virginia and from Rhode Island have all had one case.
The remaining 19 states reported no descending patient. According to the experts, there will probably be more cases, and officials do not know if the risk is higher in states where the number of cases is higher, or if the notification is better.
Doctors are encouraged to report cases.
Most patients with the disease are disabled between August and October
Although this disease remains very rare, the CDC director, Dr. Robert Redfield, who took office March of this year, said that it was the first priority of the agency.
Scientists are studying a number of causes, including viruses, environmental toxins, and genetic disorders.
In previous outbreaks, a virus called EV-D68 was involved in development. from the AFM.
"We know that EV-D68 – as well as other enteroviruses – can cause limb weakness, but we do not know what triggers the AFM in these patients," he said. said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, of the CDC.
Dr. Redfield told a recent interview: "CDC has been working hard in this area since 2014 to try to understand causality and etiology.
" Today Now, we are not able to understand the cause.
"You know, we continue to intensify our efforts by working in partnership with the state and territory health departments and academic experts to try to understand it."
WHAT IS AFM?
The AFM is a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system. Specifically, it attacks the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which weakens the muscles and reflexes of the body.
Symptoms often develop after a viral infection, such as enterovirus or West Nile virus, but often no clear cause is found.
Patients start with flu-like symptoms, including sneezing and coughing. It slowly turns into muscle weakness, difficulty moving the eyes, and polio-like symptoms, such as facial weakness and difficulty swallowing.
"If [AFM affects gray matter] is lower in the spinal cord [paralysis will] more in the legs and if it is higher, it will be more in the arms," said Dr. Fernando Acosta, pediatric neurologist at Cook Children's Medical Center. , Fort Worth, Texas.
"Or, if it's closer to the neck, they can not move their head, neck and shoulders. We had one case and it was just awful. "
In the most severe cases, respiratory failure can occur when the muscles that support breathing weaken.
In rare cases, AFM can lead to neurological complications that may result in to death.
"It's a pretty dramatic illness, children present with sudden weakness," said Dr. Messonier of the CDC.
No specific treatment is available for AFM and interventions are generally recommended on a case-by-case basis.
Children with weak arms or legs may undergo physical or occupational therapy
The average age of those affected is four years and more than 90% of cases involve children 18 and under. Among them is Julia Payne, two (photo) of Chicago, Illinois
However, doctors admit that they are not aware of the long-term results for people with AFM.
WHO WAS AFFECTED BY THE AFM?
The CDC does not follow the AFM in terms of prevalence, but rather by epidemics.
The agency has confirmed 386 cases since an outbreak in Colorado in August 2014, almost all in children. [19659002] The CDC confirmed 33 cases of MFA in 2017, 149 cases in 2016, 22 cases in 2015 and 120 cases from August to December 2014.
Although the type of MFA most closely resembles an illness infectious, there remains a lot of unknown about his condition.
Among the infected children is Julia Payne, a two-year-old from Chicago.
She stayed at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Lurie Children's Hospital for weeks with a respirator and a feeding tube because she was unable to 39; swallow.
She has since been discharged and transferred to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a rehabilitation center. According to the Star Tribune in Minnesota, Orville Young (19459021), four years old, was probably the oldest confirmed case in the state.
Orville has been in physical therapy for a month and a half. His mobility and gait have not returned to normal, but his legs are mostly functional now.
Up to now, his right arm is still paralyzed.
Fortunately, many or almost all recover their movement, just like Elizabeth Storrie, five years old, from Willow Park, Texas.
She spent a month at Cook's Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, with an intravenous infusion and a feeding tube until her condition improved [19659065TheAFMaffectsthenervoussystemandmostoftenresemblesthepoliovirusHealthofficialsdeterminedthatitwasavirusbutwereunabletodeterminetheexactcauseOrvilleYoungfour(pictured)fromMinnesotawasprobablythefirstconfirmedcaseinthestate” clbad=”blkBorder img-share” />
. The AFM affects the nervous system and most resembles the polio virus. Health officials determined that it was a virus, but were unable to determine the exact cause. Orville Young, four (pictured) from Minnesota, was probably the first confirmed case in the state
