A Review of the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Flaccid Myelitis in the Emergency Department

Danielle K Daniels; Gregory P Conners

doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000002660

A Review of the Diagnosis and Management of Acute Flaccid Myelitis in the Emergency Department

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2022 Mar 1;38(3):126-130. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002660.

Authors

Danielle K Daniels¹, Gregory P Conners²

Affiliations

¹ From the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow, Department of Pediatrics.
² Stanley A. August Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, Executive Director, Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.

PMID: 35226621
DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002660

Abstract

Since 2014, biennial rises in acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) have brought attention to this rare but debilitating condition. Children with AFM typically present with acute onset, flaccid weakness accompanied by longitudinally extensive gray matter injury demonstrated on magnetic resonance imaging. A clearer understanding of the epidemiology and suspected pathogenesis of AFM may result in increased recognition. The purpose of this review article is to guide emergency physicians in recognizing key clinical features, initiating diagnostic evaluation and providing appropriate interventions for children with suspected AFM.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Central Nervous System Viral Diseases* / diagnosis
Central Nervous System Viral Diseases* / epidemiology
Central Nervous System Viral Diseases* / therapy
Child
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Myelitis* / diagnosis
Myelitis* / epidemiology
Myelitis* / therapy
Neuromuscular Diseases* / complications
Neuromuscular Diseases* / diagnosis
Neuromuscular Diseases* / therapy

Supplementary concepts

acute flaccid myelitis