Originally Published by Inside Edition
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning of a potential increase in cases of a rare condition among children that is similar to polio, according to a recently released health alert.
The alert detailed a rise in severe respiratory illness this fall that can lead to a condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM.)
According to the CDC, AFM is a severe neurological condition that affects the nervous system — specifically the spinal cord — and causes loss of reflexes, a sudden unexplained weakness or paralysis of the arms or legs, with more than 90% of cases occurring in young children.
“The warning sign is often, a child who’s recovering from a routine illness and then the recovery stops looking like what you would expect — they’re now getting worse again, and especially if they become weak,” Dr. Matt Elrick told ABC News. Elrick is an assistant professor of neurology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute who specializes in AFM.
“This is exceptionally rare even during an outbreak so it’s not something that should necessarily keep everyone up at night,” Elrick continued.
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