Rare paralyzing disease diagnosed in Lucas County child

Acute flaccid myelitis is affecting children across the country.

A Lucas County child has been diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, the rare, paralysis-causing condition affecting children across the country, health officials said Wednesday.

The child’s age, gender, or place of residence were not disclosed by the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. The cause of the polio-like condition is not known, but it has been diagnosed primarily in children and affects the nervous system.

Symptoms can include leg and arm weakness, facial droop/weakness, difficulty moving the eyes, drooping eyelids, or difficulty with swallowing or slurred speech, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC report 106 confirmed cases of AFM in 29 states this year as of Nov. 16.

Lucas County Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski encouraged parents to watch their children for symptoms.

“If you start seeing these things, you want to make sure you get your kids to the doctor. That’s an important thing,” he said.

The condition can be brought on by viruses, including enterovirus and West Nile or environmental toxins, according to a statement from the health department confirming the case. It is not contagious and cannot be spread person-to-person, but the viruses that cause it may be.

There is no specific treatment for AFM, but patients can receive supportive care such as occupational therapy depending on the severity of the illness.

Health officials suggest several precautions to prevent spreading viruses, including frequent hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick, and staying up to date on vaccinations. Though less of a concern as cold weather settles in, Mr. Zgodzinski stressed the importance of preventing mosquito bites that could transmit West Nile during warmer months.

Seven Ohio cases have been confirmed in six boys and one girl, ranging in age from less than a year to 13, according to the Ohio Department of Health. J.C. Benton, a spokesman for the state health department, said he could not provide demographic information on individual cases for patient privacy reasons.

Onset of patient illnesses range from Aug. 5 to Oct. 12.

Other AFM cases have been reported in Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Mercer, Pickaway, and Warren counties. Six of the seven children have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The number of cases in the United States confirmed by the CDC have fluctuated in recent years: 33 in 2017; 149 in 2016; 22 in 2015, and 120 in 2014.

More information can be found at cdc.gov/acute-flaccid-myelitis.