Acute flaccid myelitis: early recognition is the key

Archivist was reminded of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) when he was involved with a few cases following an enterovirus D68 mini outbreak a few years ago. It is a rare diagnosis in UK. Part of the role of the general paediatrician is to be aware of these rarities and diagnose promptly. In a small case series, reported by Matesanz S et al. [J Pediatr 2019 Aug 8. pii: S0022-3476(19)30849-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.07.015] the diagnostic features were highlighted. Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is defined as the acute onset of focal limb weakness with corresponding spinal cord grey matter-specific abnormalities spanning one or more spinal segments on MRI, sometimes with associated brainstem and posterior fossa abnormalities. Weakness typically begins in the setting of a recent or current respiratory and/or febrile illness and may be rapidly progressive. The diagnosis is often delayed and the evidence base for treatment is poor. This was a...

from Archives of Disease in Childhood current issue https://ift.tt/30DFo49