A rare, but debilitating disease with symptoms that mimic polio is affecting an increasing number of children around the U.S. this year, leading to many more questions than there are answers for both parents and doctors. The mysterious disease that targets the spinal cord and often causes partial limb paralysis -- called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM -- has been confirmed in 90 cases spread through 27 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 252 total cases are under investigation. The CDC is continuing to update national statistics as additional reports roll in. So far, doctors don't know why this year has seen such a spike in cases or what exactly causes it. "I am frustrated that despite all of our efforts we haven’t been able to identify the cause of this mystery illness," Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a news conference. "We continue to investigate." "This is a mystery so far and we haven’t solved it yet," she added. "So we have to be thinking broadly." Here are some signs to watch and more about the rare disease: What is Acute Flaccid Myelitis and how is it spread? AFM is a rare condition that affects the spinal cord, the part of the nervous system that carries brain instructions to the rest of the body, according to the CDC. The average age of people with AFM is 4 years old. The disease can be caused by a variety of things such as viruses, environmental toxins and genetic disorders. Many of the diseases associated with AFM are transmitted through the digestive system, when people with contaminated hands then touch their mouths. The virus can then infect the cells of the mouth, nose and throat. What are the symptoms of AFM? Symptoms can take 14 days to begin showing. At first, the symptoms can look like a common respiratory illness with fever, but sometimes neurological symptoms begin. Because AFM affects the spinal cord, most people affected will then suddenly have arm or leg weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. Some also have the following symptoms: -- facial droop or weakness -- difficulty moving the eyes -- drooping eyelids or difficulty with swallowing or slurred speech The most severe symptom of AFM is respiratory failure, which can occur when the muscles that move the lungs are affected. Who is affected by AFM? The disease is predominantly diagnosed in children and young adults. What are the causes? Many viruses have been linked to AFM including poliovirus and other kinds of enteroviruses, adenovirus and mosquito-borne West Nile virus. Other environmental toxins and genetic disorders can also cause AFM. How is it diagnosed? Doctors do a physical exam to determine the involvement of the nervous system. They can also order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at the brain and spinal cord, as well as a lab evaluation of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord. A clinician can also look at nerve conduction, how well electrical impulses are flowing along the nerves. What is the treatment? There's no gold standard treatment specific to AFM. Supportive care -- the same kind of care given to someone with the flu -- can help. But additional physical or occupational therapy may be recommended to help with arm or leg weakness. How can it be prevented? Washing hands often will lower the chances of getting sick or spreading germs from many of the viruses linked to AFM. The polio vaccine is very effective and children should receive it on schedule. Last, but not least, protect against mosquito bites by using repellent, in addition to staying indoors at dusk and dawn. Dr. Tambetta Ojong is a family medicine resident at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and a member of the ABC News Medical Unit.<doc-sep>The US Centers for Disease Control now says there have been 62 confirmed and 65 suspected cases of the mysterious condition known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). Cases of AFM—which affects the spinal cord—have risen substantially in the US in the past couple of months, Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said today (Oct. 16). Usually after just a mild cold or fever, the condition weakens or paralyzes limbs. Often patients—most of whom are children—recover, but sometimes this paralysis can be permanent. One child in the US died from the condition in 2017. “This is actually a pretty dramatic disease,” Messonnier said. “These kids have a sudden onset of weakness and they are generally seeking medical care and being evaluated by neurologists, infectious-disease doctors and their pediatricians and coming to public-health awareness.” It’s unclear what causes AFM. The CDC, which has only collected data on 362 cases confirmed since 2014, estimates there are usually less than one case per million people each year. It’s widely suspected that AFM is related to the viruses that cause polio and West Nile. However, none of the patients with AFM have tested positive for polio, and Messonnier said that West Nile is not the cause. Scientists also believe it could be related to genetic or environmental factors but are unsure how. Although there isn’t an official state-by-state count, there have been 14 cases in Colorado, eight in Texas, six in Minnesota, five in Maryland, and three in New Jersey. Over half of US states have suspected or confirmed cases, according to a survey conducted by CNN. At the moment, there is no treatment for AFM. Healthcare providers can only try to mitigate symptoms of patients with the hope that they recover. Correction (Oct. 18): An earlier version of this article said that there are less than one million cases of AFM annually. It is actually less than one case per million people.<doc-sep>At least 90 cases spread across 27 states of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare disease which can mimic the symptoms of polio, have been reported in the US this year according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). At least six children in Minnesota and 14 in Colorado contracted the disease in the span of just a few weeks this past September. Minnesota's department of health says normally it only sees about one case of the disease, which can lead to paralysis or even death in some cases, every year. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Shannon Barbare said in a statement "nearly all" of the children there have "fully recovered" from initial symptoms. All of the children are under the age of 10 and the first symptoms appeared for some of them as they recovered from a cold or a bout with the flu. There have been no AFM-related deaths reported in either state. Nancy Messonnier, the CDC's director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said though respiratory illnesses are common this time of year, "what we don’t know is what's triggering AFM. It may be one of the viruses we have already tested. It may be a virus we haven’t yet detected. Or it could be the virus is kicking off another process and it is actually triggering (AFM) through an autoimmune process." Recommended Polio virus significantly aids fight against most deadly brain cancer An incredibly rare disease Kris Ehresmann with the Minnesota Department of Health told CBS News that the disease was "very, very rare – it's about one in a million”. Since 2014, more than 360 cases have been reported around the US. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s website said “this condition is not new, but the increase in cases we saw starting in 2014 is new.” In Minnesota, there is usually only one case reported per year. Symptoms The disease “affects the nervous system, specifically the area of the spinal cord called gray matter”, according to the CDC. Muscles and reflexes in the body become weak and children may exhibit signs of facial drooping, difficulty in moving their eyes, swallowing, or speaking. They may also have trouble keeping their eyes open or have slurred speech. Elaine and Michael Young’s four-year-old son Orville has been unable to move his right arm. ✕ 70-year-old polio survivor has used an iron lung for 64 years They told CBS News he also had difficulties moving his legs and sitting up on his own. Numbness is rare in patients, but some could experience limb pain or have trouble controlling their bladder. When AFM can prove fatal is if there is a weakening of the muscles required to breathe. At that point patients would require the use of a breathing machine. Causes and Diagnosis State health officials have warned if any child is experiencing any of these symptoms they should be evaluated by a doctor immediately. Like many neurological diseases, it can be brought on by viruses, environmental toxins, or genetic disorders. The CDC warned: “Oftentimes, despite extensive lab tests, the cause of a patient’s AFM is not identified” because of it can be mistaken for other related illnesses like Guillain-Barre syndrome and transverse myelitis. ✕ National Polio Immunisation Day in New Delhi, India Doctors examine a patient’s nervous system, particular the places on the body where there is weakness, pain, numbness, or paralysis. They also take pictures of the spinal cord in order to notice any abnormalities. In some cases, doctors will do magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at the brain and spinal cord more clearly. Lab tests are also usually conducted on the cerebrospinal fluid, the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Treatment Though AFM is likened to polio, there is no vaccine to prevent it. The current treatment mostly involves seeing a neurologist who may recommend physical therapy to accommodate the limb weakness. Unfortunately research on the long-term effects of the rare disease have not been established through extensive medical studies. Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Show all 8 1 /8 Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A hospitalised child suffering from polio shows off his biceps to a doctor in 1947 Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Children being given an oral vaccine for polio, known then as infantile paralysis, in Hull during the 1961 epidemic Rex Features Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A boy suffering from polio being treated with a type of 'iron lung' in hospital. A nurse operates the equipment at the end of the bed which controls the flow of air pressure Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A woman sees her new born baby whilst lying inside an iron lung as part of her treatment for Polio Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Polio victim Margaret Dixon watching the opening matches of the 1957 Wimbledon championships from her invalid chair Rex Features Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Young children polio patients doing physiotherapy exercises wearing calipers against their outside beds at Wingfield Nuffield Orthopaedic hospital in Oxfordshire Rex Features Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A five year old polio victim walks into the outstretched arms of Doctor George Deaver, faculty member of the New York University College of Medicine, during a demonstration at the Institute of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination 6 May 1956: First injections for children against polio at the Hendon clinic Getty Images According to the patient advocacy group the Transverse Myelitis Association some treatments are the same for the associated AFM disease since both involve an inflammation of the spinal cord. These could be administering a “high dose [intravenous] steroids...[or] plasma exchange” according to its website. Ms Barbare said: “There is no vaccination or specific treatment for enteroviruses. People with mild illness typically need treatment only for symptoms. However, some illnesses caused by EV-A71 and EV-D68 [viruses] can be severe enough to require" being put in hospital.<doc-sep>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a mysterious polio-like disorder that is on the rise across the nation. It mainly affects children. Acute flaccid myelitis affects a person's nervous system and can paralyze a child's arms and legs. Between 2014 and 2018, the CDC received reports of 386 cases. More than 60 cases reported this year have been confirmed by the CDC in 22 states. It is actively investigating AFM cases, and trying to unearth more information about the rare disease. Brittany Fowler of the Maryland Department of Health told USA TODAY that there have been five possible cases of AFM in the state, all in children under 18. The Minnesota Department of Health announced six cases had been reported in children under 10 years old. The cause of most of the AFM cases is unknown. Some cases have been linked to poliovirus (polio) and West Nile virus, according to the CDC. Symptoms include drooping face and eyelids, difficulty moving eyes and swallowing, and slurred speech. In severe cases, children might have trouble breathing and need a ventilator because of muscle weakness. Even with extensive lab testing, AFM is difficult to diagnose, because it so similar to other conditions, including poliovirus, West Nile virus and adenoviruses, the CDC reports. More:Rare, polio-like paralyzing disorder affecting children on the rise, CDC says There is no specific treatment for AFM, and the long-term outcomes for AFM patients is unknown. To date, one child has died from AFM. The average age of AFM patients is 4 years old and 90 percent of reported cases involve patients under age 18, said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. She called the disease mysterious and said she is she is "frustrated" that there still is so much health officials do not know about AFM. The CDC is "actively investigating escalating" it's response of this "mystery illness" she said. While cases have been on the rise since 2014, AFM still affects a small population — less than one in a million people in the United States annually. The CDC recommends people follow normal disease prevention steps to avoid AFM, including staying current on vaccines, washing hands and avoiding mosquito bites. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets<doc-sep>
It’s mysterious, it’s dangerous and it’s got parents on edge from coast to coast. It’s a medical condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. The disease causes sudden, unexplained paralysis, usually in children. Its resemblance to polio has caused the public to take notice. Federal health officials have confirmed 62 cases of AFM in the U.S. this year, and 65 more are under investigation. There are four suspected cases in California, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. Her toddler suddenly paralyzed, mother tries to solve a vexing medical mystery » This is the third time the nation has seen a nationwide uptick in AFM; so far, 2018 appears to be following the pattern seen in 2014 and 2016. Here’s a look at what experts know — and don’t know — about the condition. What is AFM? Acute flaccid myelitis is a condition that affects the spinal cord, making it difficult for people to move their limbs. The paralysis it causes typically comes on suddenly, and it can be permanent. More than 90% of cases are in children. Is this a new disease? No, but doctors only began noticing it in 2014. That’s when dozens of children began showing up in hospitals unable to move their arms or legs. Ultimately, 120 children were diagnosed with AFM that year. There was another burst of cases in 2016, and we’re in the midst of a third one now. What causes AFM? Scientists would love to know. Some experts believe that it is linked to a biennial summer virus, because cases tend to peak in the late summer and early fall in alternating years. “Despite all of our efforts, we haven’t been able to identify the cause of this mystery illness,” Dr. Nancy Meissonier, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said this week. How is it different than polio? Though AFM’s symptoms resemble polio, no AFM patients have tested positive for poliovirus. Some patients diagnosed with AFM were found to have enterovirus D68, a cousin of poliovirus, in their systems. CDC officials have not confirmed that enterovirus D68 causes AFM. They say they are investigating several potential causes, including environmental toxins. How common is it? Not common at all. There have been 386 cases in the United States since 2014. That works out to a rate of less than 1 in a million, according to Meissonier. “As a parent myself, I understand what it’s like to be scared for your child,” Meissonier said. “Parents need to know that AFM is very rare, even with the increase in cases we’re seeing now.” How do you get it? Without knowing what’s causing the condition, it’s hard to say. Doctors are unsure who is at risk and why. Are certain people more vulnerable than others? Children seem to face a higher risk than adults. The average age of patients diagnosed with AFM since January is 4. Cases of AFM have been confirmed in 22 states across the U.S. Is there anything I can do to protect myself? Doctors recommend washing your hands, staying up to date on your vaccinations and using insect repellent to ward off mosquito bites. Meissonier also said that anyone experiencing sudden muscle weakness should seek immediate medical attention.