Acute flaccid paralysis is repoed in a child aged:
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a key surveillance indicator for polio. The World Health Organization (WHO) requires reporting of AFP cases in children under 15 years old. So the question is likely asking about the age group for reporting AFP cases. The correct answer is probably under 15. But without the options, I need to infer based on standard knowledge.
The core concept here is the surveillance for poliomyelitis. The WHO's AFP surveillance targets children under 15 because they are the main population affected by polio. The correct answer would be that the child is under 15. The wrong options might include other age groups, like under 5 or under 10, which are subsets but not the full age range. Another common distractor could be under 10 years, which is used in some contexts but not for AFP reporting.
So, the explanation should mention that AFP surveillance is for children under 15 as per WHO guidelines. The incorrect options would be other age groups not specified by the WHO. Clinical pearls would emphasize the importance of AFP reporting in polio eradication efforts. The correct answer is likely under 15 years old.
**Core Concept**
Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a key surveillance indicator for poliomyelitis. The World Health Organization (WHO) mandates reporting of AFP cases in children **under 15 years** to monitor polio eradication efforts and detect potential outbreaks.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The WHO defines AFP as a sudden onset of flaccid weakness in one or more limbs, with or without fever, in children aged **<15 years**. This age group is targeted because polio primarily affects young children, and AFP surveillance helps distinguish paralytic poliomyelitis from other causes of acute flaccid weakness (e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, viral myelitis). Reporting in this age group ensures high sensitivity for polio detection.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** (e.g., "Under 5 years") Incorrect. While young children are at higher risk for polio, AFP surveillance includes all children under 15 as per WHO guidelines.
**Option B:** (e.g., "Under 10 years") Incorrect. This age range is narrower than the WHO’s standard 15-year cutoff, risking underreporting in older children.
**Option C:** (e.g., "All age groups") Incorrect. AFP surveillance is specific to children under 15 to focus on polio-endemic populations. Adults are not included in routine polio surveillance.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
**Remember: "15 is the WHO limit!"** All cases of AFP in children **<15 years** must be reported to public health authorities. This is a **high-yield exam fact** for NEET PG and USMLE, as it reflects a core public health strategy for polio eradication