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Cases of a paralyzing condition that affects children in the country, unofficial survey by NBC News has found.
The condition, called acute flaccid myelitis or AFM, appears to be caused by a viral infection. It causes symptoms ranging from muscle weakness to complete paralysis.
It comes in a variety of symptoms, including dizziness, inability to walk, trouble swallowing or trouble moving an arm. There is no need for breathing, but they need trouble.
As of the end of September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed 38 cases in 16 states. CDC did not name the states, but health officials in Colorado said they had 14 cases in 2018 and officials in Minnesota confirmed six.
State health officials in 23 other states NBC News they have both suspected and confirmed cases, some of them reported after the end of September. An unaccounted for and confirmed cases of acute flaccid myelitis, for a total of 83 suspected and confirmed cases.
"There are currently two possible cases reported in 2018 that are under investigation," Brittany Fowler, spokesperson for the Maryland health department, told NBC News.
"Said Lynn Sutfin of the Michigan Department of Public Health.
A spokeperson for the CDC said the agency did not plan to release updated numbers this week.
It takes time to confirm a case of AFM. Viruses can cause a range of neurological symptoms and AFM is one of the rare conditions that can follow a viral infection. For AFM to be confirmed, doctors must determine whether the spinal cord is affected.
The CDC has a list of tests to be confirmed.
"All suspected cases are sent to the CDC for their neurologists," said Lara Anton of the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas has confirmed eight boxes of AFM this year.
"It takes a second look at the case and make the determination of AFM," Anton added.
"There are a few cases undergoing that process right now that are not reflected in the official case count. All but one of the Texas cases are children. "
Alabama is investigating two possible cases, too. "We have not completed our own investigations yet to confirm it's so reported to the CDC," said Sherri Davidson, Alabama's state epidemiologist. "It can take a month or two because there is a lot of documentation to go through and an expert panel that needs to review."
Health officials will have a firm count of cases of AFM
South Carolina, for instance, would be reported, said Tommy Crosby of the State Department of Health and Environmental Control or DHEC.
"Providers will often consult with DHEC when they suspect AFM has a complication of an infectious disease," Crosby said.
AFM looks very much like polio.
"The patients' symptoms have been most similar to complications of certain viruses, including poliovirus, non-polio enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and West Nile viruses," the CDC says.
Other viruses have been linked with cases, including one called EV-A71. Both EV-D68 and EV-A71 are enteroviruses and are distant relative of polio.
The virus that causes polio has been eradicated in most of the world by vaccination, but regular epidemic swept through, paralyzing thousands of children. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where this year, because conflict makes it difficult to vaccinate all children.
In the U.S., "the increase in AFM cases in 2014 coincided with a national outbreak of severe respiratory illness among people caused by enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). Among the people confirmed with AFM, CDC did not consistently detect EV-D68 in every patient, "the CDC said.
There are no vaccines against either EV-D68 or EV-A71.
Since 2014, boxes have risen and fallen. The CDC reported 120 cases of AFM in 2014, 22 boxes in 2015, 149 boxes in 2016 and 33 boxes in 2017.
"Surveillance has shown that AFM cases generally peak in the months of September and October," the Nevada state health department said in a bulletin sent to healthcare providers in August.
"A biennial pattern has been observed, with the majority of cases reported in 2014 and 2016, and smaller numbers reported in 2015 and 2017. If this pattern continues, we should expect to see an increase in AFM cases in 2018."
The CDC says to wash hands regularly and thoroughly to protect against bacterial and viral infections, in general.
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