(HealthDay)—Nine recent cases of a rare, polio-like disorder in children are being investigated in Illinois, health officials said yesterday.
All the patients with the condition, called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), are younger than 18 and from northern Illinois, according to the state’s Department of Public Health, CNN reported.
Since 2015, Illinois has had four confirmed cases of AFM. Symptoms include sudden limb weakness, loss of muscle tone and reflexes, facial and eyelid drooping, facial weakness, difficulty moving the eyes, swallowing difficulty, or slurred speech, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The condition can be caused by a virus, a genetic disorder, and environmental toxins. There is no treatment other than managing symptoms, CNN reported.
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