Source: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/c...nada-1.4872205
Cases of rare, polio-like paralysis targeting kids appear in Canada
A mysterious disease affecting children in the U.S. has surfaced in Canada, doctors say
Dr. Brian Goldman ? 2 hours ago
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported a small surge in cases of a mysterious disease in children. More than 60 cases of the polio-like illness have been confirmed in 22 U.S. states in recent weeks. Now, doctors in Toronto say they're seeing cases appear in Canada.
"I can confirm that since September, we have certainly seen an increase of patients with muscle weakness who also had a preceding viral illness," said Dr. Jeremy Friedman, associate pediatrician-in-chief at the Hospital for Sick Children. "These symptoms are typical of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and increases of similar cases have been reported by many other North American pediatric centres."
Doctors do not know what causes the ailment, nor are they sure why more cases have been reported recently. Children are the victims in the vast majority of cases and doctors are not exactly sure why.
Dr. Friedman would not give an exact figure on the number of new cases in Canada, but did say SickKids has seen "fewer than 20 probable cases of AFP." That is news to Health Canada.
"Fewer than five cases have been reported from January to August 2018, which is the latest data we have available," said Health Canada spokesperson Anna Maddison. "For 2018, the observed number of cases is within the normal range."
In an email sent to hospitals last week, SickKids doctors warned front-line physicians to stay on the lookout for new cases of AFP in Canada...
Cases of rare, polio-like paralysis targeting kids appear in Canada
A mysterious disease affecting children in the U.S. has surfaced in Canada, doctors say
Dr. Brian Goldman ? 2 hours ago
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported a small surge in cases of a mysterious disease in children. More than 60 cases of the polio-like illness have been confirmed in 22 U.S. states in recent weeks. Now, doctors in Toronto say they're seeing cases appear in Canada.
"I can confirm that since September, we have certainly seen an increase of patients with muscle weakness who also had a preceding viral illness," said Dr. Jeremy Friedman, associate pediatrician-in-chief at the Hospital for Sick Children. "These symptoms are typical of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and increases of similar cases have been reported by many other North American pediatric centres."
Doctors do not know what causes the ailment, nor are they sure why more cases have been reported recently. Children are the victims in the vast majority of cases and doctors are not exactly sure why.
Dr. Friedman would not give an exact figure on the number of new cases in Canada, but did say SickKids has seen "fewer than 20 probable cases of AFP." That is news to Health Canada.
"Fewer than five cases have been reported from January to August 2018, which is the latest data we have available," said Health Canada spokesperson Anna Maddison. "For 2018, the observed number of cases is within the normal range."
In an email sent to hospitals last week, SickKids doctors warned front-line physicians to stay on the lookout for new cases of AFP in Canada...
Comment