In recent days, news about a sudden rise in a polio-like illness, called acute flaccid myelitis, among children in Canada and the US has been striking fear in parents. We asked Jeremy Friedman, associate paediatrician-in-chief at SickKids Hospital, where many of the cases are being treated, what we know so far and how parents can keep their kids safe.
What is acute flaccid myelitis"
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare condition that affects the nervous system, making muscles in the arms and legs weak. It typically affects children under the age of 15, and it appears after a child has contracted a virus, which can cause symptoms of the common cold. Some children develop weakness in an arm or leg, usually on one side of the body, while others will experience permanent paralyzation in their limbs, which is why some people are comparing it to polio.  .related-article-block{display:inline-block;width:300px;padding:0.5rem;margin-left:0.5rem;float:right;border:1px solid #ccc}@media (max-width: 525px){.related-article-block{float:none;display:block;width:280px;margin:0 auto 2rem}}

Your ultimate guide to the most common kid illnesses

“A big part of acute flaccid myelitis is sudden weakness and paralysis of a limb,” says Friedman. “And it is quite similar to polio in that respect.”
But, Friedman notes, there is a big spectrum of severity, and treatment varies on a case-by-case basis. While some of the kids being treated at SickKids have shown signs...