Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare but serious neurological condition that impacts the spinal cord. The condition causes sudden weakness in the arms or legs, loss of reflexes, and loss of muscle tone.
The condition is similar to polio and mainly affects young children. It comes from a common cold virus. Patients will begin with respiratory-like symptoms, like a cough and fever, then develop AFM.
Treating conditions like AFM requires a high level of pediatric neurology and rehabilitation expertise. Healthcare providers, especially nurse practitioners trained through online NP programs, play a crucial role in supporting these children.
In severe cases, the condition can lead to respiratory failure and even life-threatening body temperature changes. AFM can also affect the breathing, neck, and belly muscles.
Statistics and Treatment
Experts began tracking acute flaccid myelitis following initial clusters in 2014, and the Center for Disease Control recognised the condition in the same year. In the past decade, there have been 760 confirmed cases nationwide.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for AFM and no specific way to prevent the condition. Most health organisations recommend taking the same steps you would to avoid getting a viral infection, like washing hands and avoiding contact with sick people.
Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) have published a new study, ‘Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Enables Recovery of Walking in Children with Acute Flaccid Myelitis’, outlining a potential new treatment for those living with AFM.
AFM Study Findings
A new study from researchers at the ICSCI was published in the journal Children. It involves four children with AFM-related spinal cord injuries and offers hope to children with acute flaccid myelitis through a new treatment.
In the study, the children received a combination of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSS) and movement training. They received 22 therapy sessions consisting of the treatment, and the findings demonstrated that it helped improve their ability to walk.
What is TSS?
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation is a noninvasive form of neuromodulation therapy. It involves placing electrodes (pads) on the skin and using an electrical current to stimulate the spinal circuits.
TSS amplifies the volume of signals travelling from the brain through the spinal cord. This process facilitates muscle activation and helps restore motor function in AFM patients.
The Future of AFM Treatment
Rebecca Martin, OTR/L, OTD, CPAM, and Manager of Clinical Education and Training at ICSCI and primary investigator of the study, says the research shows that the combination of TSS and movement training is a safe, effective intervention that offers a new path for rehabilitation and improved quality of life.
‘This treatment gives families a long-awaited solution when they previously had no answers… We aim to continue refining this approach and making it more widely available to these rare patients across the country,’ said Martin.
The study’s results were promising. Three of the children showed improvements in walking distance, and two of those three had measurable gains in posture, speed, and overall walking function.
What Causes Acute Flaccid Myelitis?
Research has shown that an infection with a type of enterovirus might cause acute flaccid myelitis. Enterovirus itself is common in respiratory illnesses and fevers, especially in children.
Research has shown that an infection with a type of virus known as enterovirus can cause acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). While many respiratory illnesses and fevers from enterovirus are common in children, and they recover, AFM can develop into AFM in sporadic cases.
Researchers aren’t sure why some children recover from encountering enterovirus while others develop AFM. In the United States, viruses, including enterovirus, circulate most commonly between August and November.
If you suspect that you or your child is showing signs of acute flaccid myelitis, it’s essential to seek medical care as soon as possible. In severe cases, AFM can cause breathing difficulties and be life-threatening.
How is AFM Diagnosed?
There is no simple way, like a blood test, for a physician to diagnose AFM. It can also be difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose because it shares similarities with many other neurological conditions, like polio and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
A healthcare provider must undergo a multi-step process to diagnose a patient with AFM. This usually includes evaluating the patient’s symptoms and medical history, physical exams, neurological exams, and nerve response tests.
Outlook and Recovery
Acute flaccid myelitis is a relatively new condition, only officially recognised by the CDC in 2014. So, researchers don’t know the long-term prognosis (outlook) for people with the condition.
Current data shows that most people living with AFM tend to improve over time with physical therapy, but less than 10% ever recover completely. Hopefully, the study and findings from the ICSCI can help improve this number as the TSS treatment becomes accessible.
About the author: Mian Jami is a Business Marketing Specialist at DLinxOutreach Marketing. With expertise in creating impactful marketing strategies, he leverages his skills to build engaging, results-driven content that connects brands with their audiences. Passionate about translating complex marketing concepts into clear, actionable insights, Mian crafts articles that help businesses thrive in a competitive landscape.
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare but serious neurological condition that impacts the spinal cord. The condition causes sudden weakness in the arms or legs, loss of reflexes, and loss of muscle tone. The condition is similar to polio and mainly affects young children. It comes from a common cold virus. Patients will begin with respiratory-like symptoms, like a cough and fever, then develop AFM. Treating conditions like AFM requires a high level of pediatric neurology and rehabilitation expertise. Healthcare providers, especially nurse practitioners trained through online NP programs, play a crucial role in supporting these children. In severe cases, the condition can lead to respiratory failure and even life-threatening body temperature changes. AFM can also affect the breathing, neck, and belly muscles. Experts began tracking acute flaccid myelitis following initial clusters in 2014, and the Center for Disease Control recognised the condition in the same year. In the past decade, there have been 760 confirmed cases nationwide. Currently, there is no specific treatment for AFM and no specific way to prevent the condition. Most health organisations recommend taking the same steps you would to avoid getting a viral infection, like washing hands and avoiding contact with sick people. Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI) have published a new study, ‘Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Enables Recovery of Walking in Children with Acute Flaccid Myelitis’, outlining a potential new treatment for those living with AFM. A new study from researchers at the ICSCI was published in the journal Children. It involves four children with AFM-related spinal cord injuries and offers hope to children with acute flaccid myelitis through a new treatment. In the study, the children received a combination of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSS) and movement training. They received 22 therapy sessions consisting of the treatment, and the findings demonstrated that it helped improve their ability to walk. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation is a noninvasive form of neuromodulation therapy. It involves placing electrodes (pads) on the skin and using an electrical current to stimulate the spinal circuits. TSS amplifies the volume of signals travelling from the brain through the spinal cord. This process facilitates muscle activation and helps restore motor function in AFM patients. Rebecca Martin, OTR/L, OTD, CPAM, and Manager of Clinical Education and Training at ICSCI and primary investigator of the study, says the research shows that the combination of TSS and movement training is a safe, effective intervention that offers a new path for rehabilitation and improved quality of life. ‘This treatment gives families a long-awaited solution when they previously had no answers… We aim to continue refining this approach and making it more widely available to these rare patients across the country,’ said Martin. The study’s results were promising. Three of the children showed improvements in walking distance, and two of those three had measurable gains in posture, speed, and overall walking function. Research has shown that an infection with a type of enterovirus might cause acute flaccid myelitis. Enterovirus itself is common in respiratory illnesses and fevers, especially in children. Research has shown that an infection with a type of virus known as enterovirus can cause acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). While many respiratory illnesses and fevers from enterovirus are common in children, and they recover, AFM can develop into AFM in sporadic cases. Researchers aren’t sure why some children recover from encountering enterovirus while others develop AFM. In the United States, viruses, including enterovirus, circulate most commonly between August and November. If you suspect that you or your child is showing signs of acute flaccid myelitis, it’s essential to seek medical care as soon as possible. In severe cases, AFM can cause breathing difficulties and be life-threatening. There is no simple way, like a blood test, for a physician to diagnose AFM. It can also be difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose because it shares similarities with many other neurological conditions, like polio and Guillain-Barré syndrome. A healthcare provider must undergo a multi-step process to diagnose a patient with AFM. This usually includes evaluating the patient’s symptoms and medical history, physical exams, neurological exams, and nerve response tests. Acute flaccid myelitis is a relatively new condition, only officially recognised by the CDC in 2014. So, researchers don’t know the long-term prognosis (outlook) for people with the condition. Current data shows that most people living with AFM tend to improve over time with physical therapy, but less than 10% ever recover completely. Hopefully, the study and findings from the ICSCI can help improve this number as the TSS treatment becomes accessible. About the author: Mian Jami is a Business Marketing Specialist at DLinxOutreach Marketing. With expertise in creating impactful marketing strategies, he leverages his skills to build engaging, results-driven content that connects brands with their audiences. Passionate about translating complex marketing concepts into clear, actionable insights, Mian crafts articles that help businesses thrive in a competitive landscape.Statistics and Treatment
AFM Study Findings
What is TSS?
The Future of AFM Treatment
What Causes Acute Flaccid Myelitis?
How is AFM Diagnosed?
Outlook and Recovery
