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Parents warned about rare illness that can leave kids paralyzed
Parents warned about rare illness that can leave kids paralyzed
Debbie Lord - Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Updated10:17 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 | Filed in National/World News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday reported that a rare illness that leaves it victims paralyzed appears to be on the rise in the United States. ... Fifty cases of the illness called acute flaccid myelitis have been reported to the CDC so far this year. The syndrome affects the central nervous system and is more often seen in children – the median age of patients with AFM is 7 years old.
While AFM is rare, there have been cases reported in 24 states so far this year – that is twice the number of cases reported in all of 2015. An outbreak between August 2014 and December 2014 saw 120 reported cases. ... What causes AFM is not clear, but researchers believe certain viruses such as the enterovirus (polio and non-polio), adenoviruses (viruses that cause colds, pink eye, bronchitis and other usually mild infections) and the West Nile virus play a part in the syndrome.
The disease is difficult to treat. According to CDC records, while 85 percent of those afflicted with reported cases of AFM showed improved symptoms, only three patients ever fully recovered from the disease.
....
The Washington Post reported that a CDC official had sent alerts to state health departments concerning the illness. "We have sent out several health alerts to states to let them know we are seeing an increase in reporting and to encourage them to communicate with doctors to report these cases in a timely fashion."
Debbie Lord - Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Updated10:17 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016 | Filed in National/World News
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday reported that a rare illness that leaves it victims paralyzed appears to be on the rise in the United States. ... Fifty cases of the illness called acute flaccid myelitis have been reported to the CDC so far this year. The syndrome affects the central nervous system and is more often seen in children – the median age of patients with AFM is 7 years old.
While AFM is rare, there have been cases reported in 24 states so far this year – that is twice the number of cases reported in all of 2015. An outbreak between August 2014 and December 2014 saw 120 reported cases. ... What causes AFM is not clear, but researchers believe certain viruses such as the enterovirus (polio and non-polio), adenoviruses (viruses that cause colds, pink eye, bronchitis and other usually mild infections) and the West Nile virus play a part in the syndrome.
The disease is difficult to treat. According to CDC records, while 85 percent of those afflicted with reported cases of AFM showed improved symptoms, only three patients ever fully recovered from the disease.
....
The Washington Post reported that a CDC official had sent alerts to state health departments concerning the illness. "We have sent out several health alerts to states to let them know we are seeing an increase in reporting and to encourage them to communicate with doctors to report these cases in a timely fashion."
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