Polio-Like Acute Flaccid Myelitis Popping Up in Texas Children

STATEWIDE — A mysterious, polio-like illness has affected about half a dozen children in Texas.

It's called acute flaccid myelitis.

The condition mostly affects children and can cause paralysis.

The Centers for Disease Control says 32 cases have been confirmed this year in the U.S.

That's more than four times the number of cases by this time last year.

Doctors say a parent's sharp eye is often the best way to spot AFM, as it's known.

"I'm going to say that weakness, pain, not doing what the child was doing before. Difficulty in movement would require I think, medical evaluation,” said Dr. Sarmistha Hauger of the Dell Children's Medical Center.

Treatment includes helping patients to breathe and maintain blood pressure as well as physical and occupational therapy.