Bottom Line: Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a poorly understood polio-like illness mostly of children characterized by weakness of muscles and limbs and the presence of a spinal cord lesion. An increase in cases was first suspected in 2012 and some epidemiologic evidence suggests viruses may be associated with AFM outbreaks in the United States in the late summer and fall of 2014, 2016 and 2018. Much still needs to be learned about the cause, progression, biomarkers, prognosis and treatment of this rare condition.
JAMA Pediatrics published three new articles on AFM because of their clinical and public health importance
To Learn More: All the articles are available on the For The Media website.
(doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.4890)
Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
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Journal
JAMA Pediatrics