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Following reports of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in children across the U.S. in 2014, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) established a case definition, initiated a surveillance program, and coordinated a standardized evaluation for affected patients.
This report summarizes 305 cases of AFM in 43 states reported from January 2015 through December 2017. Findings include:
Of 193 confirmed pediatric cases from 41 states, most were in 2016, in the summer and fall months, and in boys. Median age was 6 years (range, 3 months to 21 years).
83% of patients reported symptoms before onset of AFM, including respiratory (66%) and gastrointestinal (29%).
45% of patients had three or four limbs involved, 36% presented with quadriplegia, and 33% required m…