The complete acute and post-acute care course of children affected by acute flaccid myelitis in Western Pennsylvania: A case series

Abstract

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a “polio-like” neurologic disorder of the spinal cord gray matter characterized by asymmetric, flaccid limb weakness of rapid onset following prodromal viral illness. It has affected the pediatric population of the United States since 2014, but there is a paucity of literature describing the post-acute comprehensive rehabilitation management that maximizes functional outcomes for patients. This case series attempts to mitigate this by describing the complete acute and post-acute care course of six children diagnosed with AFM in Western Pennsylvania. It is critical that pediatric rehabilitation medicine providers be knowledgeable about the complex medical and rehabilitation management for patients with AFM.