Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM)
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). This is caused by Enterovirus D68 (EV‐D68). Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Cause
- This is caused by Enterovirus D68 (EV‐D68)
- It is identifiable in nasopharyngeal aspirates
Epidemiological features
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Onset features
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Clinical features
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Differential diagnosis
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Nerve conduction studies (NCS): features
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Virology of respiratory aspirate
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): features
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Other investigations
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Treatment
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References
- Kirolos A, Mark K, Shetty J, et al; NHS Lothian EV-D68 Associated AFM Study Group. Outcome of paediatric acute flaccid myelitis associated with enterovirus D68: a case series. Dev Med Child Neurol 2019; 61:376-380.
- Hatayama K, Goto S, Yashiro M, et al. Acute flaccid myelitis associated with enterovirus D68 in a non-epidemic setting. IDCases 2019; 17:e00549.
- Gordon-Lipkin E, Muñoz LS, Klein JL, Dean J, Izbudak I, Pardo CA. Comparative quantitative clinical, neuroimaging, and functional profiles in children with acute flaccid myelitis at acute and convalescent stages of disease. Dev Med Child Neurol 2019; 61:3
- Messacar K, Schreiner TL, Maloney JA, et al. A cluster of acute flaccid paralysis and cranial nerve dysfunction temporally associated with an outbreak of enterovirus D68 in children in Colorado, USA. Lancet 2015; 385:1662-1671.
- Kuehn B. Acute flaccid myelitis cluster. JAMA 2019; 321:2156.
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