Acute Flaccid Myelitits

Question 1

What is it

Answer 1

rare and polio like condition that affects the motor neurons in the gray matter of spinal cord causing muscles and reflexes to become weak

Question 2

what population does this mainly occur in

Answer 2

• children
• seen with increasing frequency over recent years

Question 3

etiology

Answer 3

• unknown
• no specific pathogens have been identified by viruses are suspected
• most patients have prior history of mild respiratory illness or fever

Question 4

symptoms

Answer 4

• sudden onset of arm or leg weakness
• loss of muscle tone and reflexes
• difficulty moving the eyes or eyelid drooping, facial droop or weakness, and difficult with swallowing or speech
• pain in neck, back or limb may be early symptom
• some may have inflammation of both gray and white matter (UMN and LMN)

Question 5

can result in

Answer 5

partial or total paralysis of just one or all limbs
- weakness most often occurs in proximal muscles

Question 6

severest symptoms

Answer 6

• respiratory failure

Question 7

prognosis

Answer 7

most patients regain some strength over time; many do not recover full function