Acute Flaccid Paralysis

Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) occurs when there is rapid evolution of motor weakness (< than 4 days), with a loss of tone in the paralysed limb. This excludes weakness due to trauma and spastic paralysis.

AFP is a medical emergency as unnecessary delays can result in death and disability. Children with AFP need to be assessed and managed carefully. A simple algorithm is provided below.

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