Outbreak of paralyzing polio-like disease across the U.S.
U.S.A — The CDC has confirmed the rise of acute flaccid myelitis, also known as polio-like disease.
Acute flaccid myelitis is a disease that causes drooping eyelids,difficulty with eye movement, loss of muscle tone, decreased reflexes along with other symptoms, according to the CDC.
The disease mainly affects children and could potentially paralyze a child's arms and/or legs.
Doctors typically diagnose the disease by examining the patient's nervous system or by conducting an MRI and looking at the patient's brain and spinal cord.
As there is no specific treatment for acute flaccid myelitis, officials recommend physical therapy for muscle weakness, washing hands and staying up to date on vaccines.
This year alone, more than half of all the states in the U.S. have confirmed possible cases of the polio-like disease.
Officials are also unsure how the disease spreads and is encouraging parents to seek medical care immediately if their child has sudden weakness in their arms or legs.
Acute flaccid myelitis is a disease that causes drooping eyelids,difficulty with eye movement, loss of muscle tone, decreased reflexes along with other symptoms, according to the CDC.
The disease mainly affects children and could potentially paralyze a child's arms and/or legs.
Doctors typically diagnose the disease by examining the patient's nervous system or by conducting an MRI and looking at the patient's brain and spinal cord.
As there is no specific treatment for acute flaccid myelitis, officials recommend physical therapy for muscle weakness, washing hands and staying up to date on vaccines.
This year alone, more than half of all the states in the U.S. have confirmed possible cases of the polio-like disease.
Officials are also unsure how the disease spreads and is encouraging parents to seek medical care immediately if their child has sudden weakness in their arms or legs.