National AFM Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Flaccid Myelitus

National A.F.M. Day is observed on September 23 to raise awareness about acute flaccid myelitis (A.F.M.), a serious condition of the spinal cord characterized by the sudden onset of arm or leg weakness and decreased reflexes, as well as difficulty moving the eyes, speaking, and sometimes swallowing. On occasion, patients may experience numbness or discomfort. A.F.M.-related complications could include difficulty inhaling. In 2018, the etiology of the majority of A.F.M. cases remained unknown and unclear. More than ninety percent of recent cases were caused by a mild viral infection, such as an enterovirus.

The Background of National AFM Day

Since 2014, the incidence of acute flaccid myelitis (A.F.M.) has been formally recorded, with an increase in cases in recent years. A group based in Texas reported observing a similar pattern in 2013 involving between one and four cases per year with polio-like characteristics. In 2014, the C.D.C. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and a C.D.C. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity conference call revealed that the majority of A.F.M. patients experienced neck, back, or extremity pain, but had normal limb sensation otherwise. Several participants on the conference call discussed whether pain that subsides prior to the commencement of paralysis could be a precursor.

A report published in October 2014 described outbreaks in California and Colorado, United States, indicating a high number of cases nationwide. A comprehensive medical history, M.R.I. imaging, and the exclusion of transverse myelitis and Guillain–Barré syndrome as potential causes were required for diagnosis. Utilizing an online distribution list, physicians discussed and compared similar cases in Alabama and Kansas. Colorado had the greatest known series of A.F.M. cases in the United States, with 29 cases, 12 of which were reported in August and later that year.

Since then, the C.D.C. has requested that physicians provide data on cases meeting the following criteria: patients diagnosed on or after August 1, 2014, who are younger than 21 years of age; patients with an acute onset of focal limb weakness; and patients with a spinal cord lesion largely restricted to gray matter visible on an MRI. In November 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported investigating 286 cases, with at least 116 confirmed cases in 31 U.S. states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established a task force to investigate the causes and develop treatments for A.F.M.

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5 FACTS ABOUT ACUTA FLACCID MYELITUS

A.F.M. attacks the nervous system, immobilizing the spinal cord, causing severe pain, and drastically diminishing motor function in certain regions of the body.

The majority of A.F.M. cases have been detected in minors.

Even though this condition is uncommon, it is life-threatening and has affected a significant number of Americans over the years.

There is no currently known treatment or cure for A.F.M., however, the condition can be managed and prevented by vaccination.

A.F.M. is believed to be somewhat related to poliomyelitis, which was widely believed to be the cause of A.F.M. prior to 2014.

NATIONAL AFM DAY DATES