NEW YORK (CNN) — Parents and pediatricians need to be on the lookout in the coming months for a rare, paralyzing condition that affects young children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

The polio-like condition, called acute flaccid myelitis or AFM, tends to peak every other year, and the last surge of cases was in 2018, when 238 cases were diagnosed across the U.S., the CDC said.

"We are concerned that, in the midst of a COVID pandemic, that cases might not be recognized as AFM, or we are concerned that parents might be worried about taking their child to the doctor if they develop something as serious as limb weakness," Clark added.

Clark said parents and doctors need to act quickly if children show any symptoms of limb weakness or pain after an infection and should not hesitate to get them to the hospital, even in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

Robert Redfield, the CDC's director, said his agency is watching to see how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the expected circulation of the viruses linked with AFM.

"It is not known how the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing measures may affect the circulation of viruses that can cause AFM, or if COVID-19 will impact the health care system's ability to promptly recognize and respond to AFM," Redfield said in a statement.

As the parent of six children and grandparent of 11, Redfield said he understands the instinct to hope symptoms just go away on their own.

The CDC confirmed 22 cases in 2015, 149 cases in 2016, 35 cases in 2017 and 238 in 2018