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Volume 28, Number 1—January 2022
CME ACTIVITY - Synopsis

Using the Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance System to Identify Cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis, Australia, 2000‒2018

Liz J. WalkerComments to Author , Bruce R. Thorley, Anne Morris, Elizabeth J. Elliott, Nathan Saul, Philip N. Britton, and on behalf of the Australian Polio Expert Panel1
Author affiliations: The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia (L.J. Walker); Australian Government Department of Health, Canberra (L.J. Walker, N. Saul); Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (B.R. Thorley); The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (A. Morris, E.J. Elliott, P.N. Britton); The University of Sydney, Sydney (E.J. Elliott, P.N. Britton)

Main Article

Table 1

Characteristics of cases of acute flaccid myleitis for 41 children <15 years of age, Australia, 2000‒2018*

Characteristic
 Value
Sex
M 19 (46.3)
F
 22 (53.7)
Median age, y, at onset (range)
 4.07 (0.25–14.08)
Prodromal illness
Confirmed 6 (14.6)
Probable 15 (36.6)
No 13 (31.7)
Unknown
 7 (17.1)
Confirmed specified
URTI 5 (83.3)
Gastrointestinal
 1 (16.7)
Site of paralysis
Known 39 (95.1)
Unknown
 2 (4.9)
Site of paralysis, upper limbs
Unilateral 11 (28.2)
Bilateral
 3 (7.7)
Site of paralysis, lower limbs
Unilateral 3 (7.7)
Bilateral
 13 (33.3)
Site of paralysis, upper and lower limbs
Unilateral 5 (12.8)
Bilateral
 4 (10.3)
Bulbar/cranial nerve palsy
Yes 14 (34.1)
No 26 (63.4)
Unknown
 1 (2.4)
Reduced sensation
Yes 6 (14.6)
No 34 (82.9)
Unknown
 1 (2.4)
Bladder/bowel dysfunction
Yes 17 (41.5)
No 15 (36.5)
Unknown
 9 (22.0)
Median CSF protein level, g/L (range)
 0.43 (0.11–1.18)
Elevated CSF protein level >0.55 g/L
Yes 8 (19.5)
No 29 (70.7)
Unknown
 4 (9.8)
Median CSF leukocyte count/mm3 (range)
 38 (0–267)
Pleocytosis >5 cells mm3
Yes 33 (80.5)
No 3 (7.3)
Unknown 5 (12.2)

*Values are no. (%) unless otherwise indicated. CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; URTI, upper respiratory tract infection.

Main Article

1Members of this panel are listed at the end of this article.

Page created: October 08, 2021
Page updated: December 16, 2021
Page reviewed: December 16, 2021
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