Acute flaccid myelitis is an inflammation, sometimes confused with polio, Guillian-Barré syndrome or traumatic neuritis because it generates symptoms such as back pain, muscle weakness, with decreased sensitivity and paralysis of legs and/or arms.
Its main feature is inflammation of the spine that leaves the muscles very weak and soft, causing paralysis; this inflammation is usually caused by an infection, but it can also occur from an autoimmune disease, which eventually attacks the cells in the spinal cord.
- Although it is not always possible to completely cure acute flaccid myelitis.
- It is possible to perform medication and physiotherapy to control symptoms and regain quality of life.
The first symptoms of acute flaccid myelitis are similar to those of influenza, with sneezing, coughing, discomfort for 3-7 days, then appear:
Because myelitis can affect the myelin sheath of nerve cells, the transmission of nerve stimuli deteriorates further over time and, as a result, it is common for symptoms to worsen every day, becoming more severe, there may even be paralysis that prevents the person from walking.
When the affected part of the spine is lower, the child may not walk for life and when the affected area is near the neck, the affected person may lose the movements of the shoulders and arms.In the most severe cases, it can be difficult to breathe.and swallow, requiring hospitalization.
For example, as soon as symptoms appear that may indicate a problem in the spine, it is very important to consult a family doctor, for example, to identify the cause and start treatment, before difficult-to-resolve injuries occur.after diagnosis, it is normal for the person to be referred to a neurologist.
To diagnose acute flaccid myelitis, a generalist or neurologist should be consulted when there is a high suspicion of a spinal problem. In addition to evaluating symptoms and disease history, your doctor usually requests diagnostic tests, such as MRI, lumbar puncture, and several blood tests, that help detect other conditions.
It is not yet known what is the exact cause of acute flaccid myelitis, however, some conditions seem to increase the risk of developing this problem, such as:
Although this is very rare, there have also been reports of acute flaccid myelitis that occurred after receiving a vaccine against hepatitis B or measles, mumps and chickenpox.
Treatment of myelitis varies greatly in each case, but usually begins with the use of medications to treat possible infections, reduce inflammation of the bone marrow and relieve symptoms, thus improving quality of life.Some of the most commonly used medications include:
After this initial therapy, and when symptoms are better controlled, your doctor may recommend physical therapy sessions to help strengthen your muscles and train coordination, which may be affected by the disease. Although physical therapy cannot cure the disease, it can greatly improve muscle strength, coordination movements, facilitate hygiene and other daily tasks.
In some cases, occupational therapy sessions may still be necessary for the person to learn how to perform daily activities with new limitations that may arise with the disease, but in many cases a full recovery occurs within a few weeks or months..