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Do You Work with Children Who Have Acute Flaccid Myelitis? We Need Your Help!

By Katie Riley posted 10-16-2018 13:55

  

An uptick in diagnosis of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) has dominated recent news reports. The polio-like condition causes pain and paralysis in otherwise healthy children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 62 known cases of AFM in 22 states so far in 2018. That is nearly double the number of last year’s reported cases. You can read more about the CDC's research on AFM here.

Among countless other news outlets, CBS, ABC, WZTV-TV in Tennessee, Everyday Health, and The Wichita Eagle news pieces all mention that occupational therapy is helping children who are experiencing these symptoms to regain strength and participate in their daily activities. AOTA is looking for occupational therapy practitioners who are helping children and their families affected by AFM to act as experts for potential follow-up articles to these stories. The goal is to educate the public through the news media of how occupational therapy is helping children affected by AFM.

If you are an occupational therapy practitioner working with children and families battling AFM and willing to speak with a reporter, please contact me at kriley@aota.org.

#pediatricOT #pediatrics #acuteflaccidmyelitis #promoteOT #media-relations

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