National AFM Day 2023: National A.F.M. Day is observed on September 23 to raise awareness about acute flaccid myelitis (A.F.M.), a serious spinal cord disorder characterized by sudden onset of arm or limb weakness and decreased reflexes, as well as difficulty moving the eyes, speaking, and sometimes swallowing. Patients may occasionally experience numbness or discomfort. A.F.M.-related complications may include breathing difficulties. In 2018, the preponderance of A.F.M. cases remained unexplained and unknown. Over ninety percent of recent instances were attributable to a mild viral infection, such as an enterovirus.
The historical context of National AFM Day
Acute flaccid myelitis (A.F.M.) has been formally recorded since 2014, with an increase in cases in recent years. A Texas-based group observed a similar pattern in 2013 involving between one and four cases per year exhibiting polio-like symptoms. In 2014, the C.D.C. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and a C.D.C. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity conference call revealed that the majority of A.F.M. patients suffered from neck, back, or extremity pain but otherwise had normal limb sensation. Several participants on the conference call pondered whether the disappearance of pain prior to the onset of paralysis might be a precursor.
A report published in October 2014 described outbreaks in California and Colorado, indicating a significant number of cases across the country. The diagnosis required a thorough medical history, M.R.I. imaging, and the exclusion of transverse myelitis and Guillain–Barré syndrome as potential causes. Utilizing an online distribution list, physicians in Alabama and Kansas discussed and contrasted similar cases. Colorado had the largest known series of A.F.M. cases in the United States, with 29 cases, of which 12 were reported in August and later in the same year.
Since then, the C.D.C. has requested that physicians report cases meeting the following criteria: patients diagnosed on or after August 1, 2014, who are younger than 21 years old; patients with an acute onset of focal limb weakness; and patients with a spinal cord lesion largely restricted to gray matter visible on MRI. In November 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that they were investigating 286 cases, including at least 116 confirmed cases in 31 U.S. states. A task force has been established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the causes and develop treatments for A.F.M.
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Five Facts Regarding Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- A.F.M. attacks the nervous system, immobilizing the spinal cord, causing excruciating pain, and drastically reducing motor function in certain body regions.
- Most cases of A.F.M. have been detected in children.
- This condition is life-threatening and has afflicted a significant number of Americans over the years, despite its rarity.
- Currently, there is no known treatment or cure for A.F.M., but the disease can be managed and prevented through vaccination.
- Prior to 2014, it was widely believed that poliomyelitis was the underlying cause of A.F.M.
NATIONAL AFM DAY DATES
| YEAR | DATE | DAY |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | September 23 | Saturday |
| 2024 | September 23 | Monday |
| 2025 | September 23 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | September 23 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | September 23 | Thursday |
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