[ad_1]
Dear Dr. Roach, I read about a disease called Acute Flaccid Myelitis that baffles scientists. Is not this polio simply renamed? – GO.
Answer • Acute flaccid myelitis is a medical mystery. The current epidemic is absolutely not caused by polio. Many people talk about "polio type" because it causes sudden neurological symptoms, especially weakness, especially in young children, just like polio did before the vaccine was adopted. However, the diagnosis of poliomyelitis requires finding a poliovirus and those affected by the current epidemic have been tested and are not infected with poliovirus.
The last case of poliomyelitis from the United States dates back to 1979. Vaccination against polio remains important, however, as it can potentially be carried by a traveler from one of the few areas where polio is still wild.
For years, epidemics of acute flaccid myelitis have been reported in the United States and Canada. however, its incidence seems to have increased since 2014. It is a rare disease, in the order of one in a million people a year.
There is a poliovirus-like virus called enterovirus D68, suspected to be one of the many causes of acute flaccid myelitis. West Nile virus is another suspected cause. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are verifying samples of children with the disease and have yet to find a single cause.
There is no specific treatment for AFM, just as there is no treatment for polio when it affects the nerves. Early stage supportive treatment and physical and occupational therapy during convalescence are the only accepted treatments.
Dear Dr. Roach • What is the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in people aged 65 and over? – L.F.G.
Answer • Not as much as we would like, but always better than nothing.
The influenza vaccine is created every year on the basis of the best knowledge available on circulating strains. The effectiveness of the vaccine for 2017-2018 was estimated at about 40%, which means that people who received the vaccine were 40% less likely to need to see a doctor for the flu.
Every year, I hear people giving reasons not to get vaccinated against the flu. For those who say they have never taken the shot and never caught the flu, I say that you should catch the flu only once to fall seriously ill. For those who say that it is not completely effective, I would say that reducing your risk by 40% is still a few minutes and a sore arm for a day, which is the most common side effect.
Dr. Roach regretted that he could not reply to individual letters, but would incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers can e-mail their questions to [email protected].
[ad_2]
Source link
