Acute Flaccid Myelitis-Possible Link with Electro-Magnetism? A Hypothesis Stimulating Study

Colin Pritchard

doi:10.26502/jesph.96120133

Abstract

“Wonder grows when knowledge fails” (Francis Bacon 1561-1626) A new polio-like condition mainly affecting children (mean 5 years old) is being observed, starting with viral and respiratory symptoms, followed by a demyelination paralysis. Known as Acute Flaccid Myelitis, first identified in 2010 in America, 28% to 95% of cases are associated with Enterovirus EVD68. Yet EVD68 itself was identified decades previously in China and the Netherlands. Prior to hospitalisation some children had no evidence of neurological symptoms, hinting a possible environmental trigger. Acute hospitals have multiple sources of background Electro-Magnetic-Field (EMF), some above recommended safety levels. Hence the hypothesis “Are critical rises in human background electromagnetism, interacting with other environmental factors, possibly a casual factor, in Acute Flaccid Myelitis? “There is evidence that low frequency EFM creates cellular oxidative stress leading to neurodegeneration. Mechanisms are unclear but could ubiquitous background EMF play a role in children’s vulnerability to EVD68? The context of the hypothesis is the evidence of accelerating rates of neurological morbidity in the 21st Century and whether the range and multiplicity of environmental factors are impacting upon an immune-compromised child’s neurology. As health environmental factors were ignored in the past, e.g. smoking and asbestos, another possible environmental linked anomaly is feared, though we note the recent establishment of the UK Acute Flaccid Paralysis Task Force in 2019. This hypothesis, whilst remaining speculative, needs to be refuted through independent research to ensure that AFM is not another children’s neurological condition, which once were rare but now becoming more commonplace.

Highlights

Can background electro-magnetism, like excess Oxygen, become pathological?1.1 A New paediatric disease In 2012 the first recorded paper on an apparently new paediatric disorder of children, Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), was identified in America in 2010 [1] The condition begins with simple viral symptoms, increasing respiratory problems and slowly emerging neurological symptoms of weakness in the limbs
AFM has been associated with Enterovirus D68, this is not exclusively so, as the presence of confirmed EV-D68 cases ranged from 28% to 95% [1, 2, 10, 11], with one relatively large cohort only 50% of cases had confirmed EVD68 [12]
1.3 Evaluation of the hypothesis We do not know of any research linking AFM and electro-magnetism

Summary

Research Article

Acute Flaccid Myelitis-Possible Link with Electro-Magnetism? A Hypothesis Stimulating Study. Prior to hospitalisation some children had no evidence of neurological symptoms, hinting a possible environmental trigger. The hypothesis “Are critical rises in human background electromagnetism, interacting with other environmental factors, possibly a casual factor, in Acute Flaccid Myelitis? As health environmental factors were ignored in the past, e.g. smoking and asbestos, another possible environmental linked anomaly is feared, though we note the recent establishment of the UK Acute Flaccid Paralysis Task Force in 2019. Smoking and asbestos, another possible environmental linked anomaly is feared, though we note the recent establishment of the UK Acute Flaccid Paralysis Task Force in 2019 This hypothesis, whilst remaining speculative, needs to be refuted through independent research to ensure that AFM is not another children’s neurological condition, which once were rare but becoming more commonplace

Introduction

Discussion

Acute Flaccid Myelitis Associated with

Central Nervous System or Systemic

Manifestations of Hospitalized Patients With

Contaminated Drinking Water within