Acute Flaccid Myelitis 2020: Be Prepared. Activity Based Restorative Therapy and Rehabilitation Outcomes
August 19, 2020 12:00pm-1:00pm ET
 |  | | Janet M. Dean, MS, RN, CRRN, CRNP | Cristina Sadowsky, MD |  |  | | Alaena McCool, MS, OTR/L | Brooke Meyer, PT, DPT |
Acute Flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare illness, affecting mostly young children. It is characterized by the rapid onset of flaccid paralysis in one or more limbs and lesions of the spinal cord largely restricted to the gray matter. It is often preceded by a prodromal fever and a respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. Severity of neurologic impairments range from localized paresis in one limb to tetraplegia requiring ventilator support. Since August, 2014 the CDC has documented 624 confirmed cases of AFM in a biannual pattern with peaks in even years during late summer/early fall. The most commonly associated infections in the US are enterovirus D68 and enterovirus A71. It is unclear what affect social distancing measures due to Covid-19 pandemic will have on the expected 2020 AFM outbreak. Because of the persistence of neurological deficits, children with AFM require long term activity base restorative therapy (ABRT) to maximize function and minimize secondary consequences of AFM. We have treated over 75 children with AFM, using intensive ABRT and we will present outcome data from two retrospective studies. Webinar participants will leave better able to identify patients with and sequelae associated with AFM and specific strategies for interdisciplinary management of this population in their setting.
OBJECTIVES- Describe the epidemiology, case definition, clinical presentation and management of children with AFM.
- Understand the history of AFM, the evolution of the diagnostic criteria, and the long-term outcomes available to date.
- Discuss how social distancing measures due to Covid-19 may affect the expected biannual 2020 increase in AFM cases.
- Discuss the application of ABRT for the treatment of children with AFM, highlighting some of the unique treatment challenges with this population.
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