We have located links that may give you full text access.
COMPARATIVE STUDY
JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Acute flaccid paralysis in Australian children.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health 2003 January
OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology and causes of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in Australian children, and the clinical features of the two most common causes of AFP, Guillain-Barré syndrome and transverse myelitis.
METHODS: Monthly active surveillance for AFP was carried out through the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, with AFP defined as 'acute onset of flaccid paralysis in one or more limbs or of bulbar paralysis in any child less than 15 years of age'.
RESULTS: Between March 1995 and December 1999, 143 cases of AFP were reported (approximately 0.8 per 100000 children < 15 years of age per annum). The age range was 2 months-14 years and 59% were boys. Out of these children, 137 (96%) were hospitalized and 47 required intensive care. No case of wild or vaccine-associated poliomyelitis was identified. The most common causes of AFP were Guillain-Barré syndrome in 67 (47%) and transverse myelitis in 27 (19%). Other diagnoses included acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, trauma, tick-bite paralysis and infantile botulism.
CONCLUSION: The participation of paediatricians in AFP surveillance contributed to the accreditation of Australia (along with the other 36 countries of the western Pacific region) as 'polio free' by the World Health Organization in October 2000. The surveillance also provided data on the frequency of AFP and identified Guillain-Barré syndrome and transverse myelitis as the most common diagnoses. In this large national series, many other conditions that may present as non-polio AFP were identified.
METHODS: Monthly active surveillance for AFP was carried out through the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, with AFP defined as 'acute onset of flaccid paralysis in one or more limbs or of bulbar paralysis in any child less than 15 years of age'.
RESULTS: Between March 1995 and December 1999, 143 cases of AFP were reported (approximately 0.8 per 100000 children < 15 years of age per annum). The age range was 2 months-14 years and 59% were boys. Out of these children, 137 (96%) were hospitalized and 47 required intensive care. No case of wild or vaccine-associated poliomyelitis was identified. The most common causes of AFP were Guillain-Barré syndrome in 67 (47%) and transverse myelitis in 27 (19%). Other diagnoses included acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, trauma, tick-bite paralysis and infantile botulism.
CONCLUSION: The participation of paediatricians in AFP surveillance contributed to the accreditation of Australia (along with the other 36 countries of the western Pacific region) as 'polio free' by the World Health Organization in October 2000. The surveillance also provided data on the frequency of AFP and identified Guillain-Barré syndrome and transverse myelitis as the most common diagnoses. In this large national series, many other conditions that may present as non-polio AFP were identified.
Full text links
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app