Rare, Polio-like Paralysis Disease with No Known Cure Found in California Children

US researchers reported a rare, polio-like syndrome with no known cure that has emerged in a small number of children in California causing sudden paralysis.

Five cases of sudden onset paralysis were described by Stanford University experts at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in Philadelphia.

Poliomyelitis - About
Polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. It results in paralysis and generally affects people of all age groups, children being more susceptible

"Although poliovirus has been eradicated from most of the globe, other viruses can also injure the spine, leading to a polio-like syndrome," said Stanford neurologist and lead author of the case reports, Keith Van Haren.

"In the past decade, newly identified strains of enterovirus have been linked to polio-like outbreaks among children in Asia and Australia," he said in a statement.

"These five new cases highlight the possibility of an emerging infectious polio-like syndrome in California."

Development Milestone
Medindia offers a milestone chart for the growing child, by which we can determine the activities of the baby at various stages of the growth.

Polio has been largely wiped out across the globe, thanks to the introduction of an effective vaccine in the mid 1950s.

However, outbreaks of the highly contagious disease continue in parts of the world, including Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

Vaccination During Pregnancy
Healthcare providers should counsel pregnant women about the benefits of receiving the recommended vaccines during pregnancy and also the potential risks it may pose to the developing fetus.

The California children tested negative for polio, and all had been vaccinated.

The patients showed similar symptoms, such as sudden loss of movement in one or more of their limbs, resulting in paralysis usually within two days.

Immunization
Protect your child from various deadly diseases by giving the vaccinations at the right age. This tool helps you schedule the vaccinations of your child.

Three of the five youths had respiratory illness before their symptoms began.

Two have tested positive for enterovirus-68, a rare virus that has been previously associated with polio-like symptoms.

The other three did not test positive, and doctors are still searching for the cause of their paralysis.

"We would like to stress that this syndrome appears to be very, very rare," said Van Haren.

However, doctors believe there are likely more cases out there and are urging parents to contact a doctor right away if their child shows signs of paralysis.

Source-AFP