AcuteAcute FlaccidFlaccid MyelitisMyelitis (AFM)(AFM) FactFact SheetSheet
Acute flaccid myelitis AFM is only one of a number of conditions that can result (AFM)Acute is a flaccid condition myelitisin neurologic (AFM) illnessis a condition with limb weakness. that affects Oftentimes, the thanervoust affects thesystem, specificallyhowever, a cause the for spinal AFM cannot cord, be identified.which can nervous system, specificallyresult from the a varietyHow of causes.is AFM treated?Practicing good hygiene is spinalone cord,way whichto protect There yourself is no specific and your treatment family for fromAFM, but diseases a doctor who canthat result can from cause a AFM.specializes in treating brain and spinal cord illnesses variety of causes. (neurologist) may recommend certain interventions on a Practicing good case-by-case basis. What are the symptoms hygieneof AFM? is one way If youHow or your is AFM child istreated? having problems walking or toMost protect patients yourself will have and sudden your family onset from of limb diseases weakness standing,There is or no develop specific sudden treatment weakness for AFM, in an but arm a ordoctor leg, that can cause AFM. contact your doctor right away. and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. Some patients who specializes in treating brain and spinal cord may also experience illnesses (neurologist) may recommend certain What are the symptoms of AFM? How can I prevent AFM? facial droop/weakness, interventions on a case-by-case basis. Being up to date on all recommended vaccinations, Most difficulty patients movingwill have the sudden eyes, onset of limb includingHow canpoliovirus, I prevent is one way AFM? to protect yourself and weakness and loss of muscle tone and reflexes. yourBeing family up from to date diseases on all thatrecommended can cause AFM. vaccinations, Check Some drooping patients eyelids, may oralso experience withincluding your doctor poliovirus, to make is sureone wayyour to family protect is up yourself to date and difficulty• facial droop/weakness, with swallowing or slurred speech. on yourall recommended family from diseases vaccines. that can cause AFM. Check Rare • difficultysymptoms includemoving the numbness eyes, or tingling in the Youwith can your protect doctor yourself to make from sure mosquito-borne your family is viruses up to date limbs and being unable to pass urine. In rare cases, a • drooping eyelids, or suchon as all West recommended Nile virus—another vaccines. known cause of AFM— patient may have difficulty breathing due to muscle by using mosquito repellent and staying indoors at dusk weakness • difficulty and require with swallowing urgent ventilator or slurred support.speech. You can protect yourself from mosquito-borne viruses andsuch dawn, as Westwhich Nile is the virus—another prime period knownthat mosquitoes cause of Rare symptoms include numbness or tingling in the If you or your child develops any of these symptoms, bite.AFM— Remove by usingstanding mosquito or stagnant repellent water and from staying nearby limbs and being unable to pass urine. In rare cases, a you should seek medical care right away. propertyindoors to at minimize dusk and the dawn, number which of mosquitoes.is the prime period patient may have difficulty breathing due to muscle Youthat can mosquitoes help protect bite. yourselves Remove from standing other orknown stagnant weakness and require urgent ventilator support. How is AFM diagnosed? causeswater of from AFM nearbyby— property to minimize the number of A doctor can tell the difference between AFM and •mosquitoes. washing your hands often with soap and water, otherHow diseases is AFM with diagnosed? a careful examination of the While we don’t know if it is effective in preventing nervousA doctor system can tell and the thedifference spinal cord, between looking AFM at andthe • avoiding close contact with sick people, and AFM, you can— locationother diseases of the withweakness, a careful muscle examination tone, and of reflexes. the • cleaning surfaces with a disinfectant, especially Magneticnervous system, resonance looking imaging at the (MRI), location lab oftesting the of the wash surfaces your that hands a sick often person with has soap touched. and water, cerebrospinalweakness, muscle fluid, tone, and and checking reflexes. nerve Magnetic conduction Washing avoid your close hands contact the rightwith sickway people,is one of and the best andresonance response imaging can be (MRI) very can helpful be very in diagnosing helpful in cases things you and your children can do to protect against ofdiagnosing AFM. cases of AFM. clean surfaces with a disinfectant, especially surfaces gettingthat sick. a sick Wash person your has hands touched. often, and especially— WhatWhat causes AFM? •Washing before youryou touch hands food; the right way is one of the best AFM can be caused by a variety of germs, including •things after you going and to your the bathroom,children can blowing do to protectyour nose, against AFM can be caused by a variety of germs, including several viruses: changing a baby’s diaper, or touching an animal, an several viruses: getting sick. Wash your hands often, and especially— animal’s food, urine or feces; and enteroviruses (polio and non-polio), • enteroviruses (polio and non-polio), before you touch food; • before and after taking care of a sick person or a cut West Nile virus (WNV) and viruses in the same family after going to the bathroom, blowing your nose, • West Nile virus (WNV) and viruses in the same or wound. as WNV, family specifically as WNV, specifically Japanese Japaneseencephalitis encephalitis virus and changing a baby’s diaper, or touching an animal, an Saint virus Louis and encephalitis Saint Louis virus,encephalitis and virus, animal’s food, urine or feces; and For more information on acute flaccid myelitis, adenoviruses. before and after taking care of a sick person or a cut • herpesviruses, such as cytomegalovirus and visit: www.cdc.gov/acute-flaccid-myelitis. Environmental Epstein-Barr toxins virus, and and genetic disorders may or wound. also• cause adenoviruses. AFM. AFM is only one of a number of For more information on acute flaccid myelitis, visit conditions that can result in neurologic illness with www.cdc.gov/acute-flaccid-myelitis. limb weakness. Oftentimes, however, a cause for AFM Last Review Date Feb 2016 cannot be identified. S epartment of NationalNational CenterCenter forfor ImmunizationImmunization andand RespiratoryRespiratory DiseasesDiseases Health and Human Services Centers for Disease DivisionDivision ofof Viral DiseasesDiseases Control and Prevention NCIRDigCS252563A 06/25/18