Acute muscular weakness in children

ABSTRACT Acute muscle weakness in children is a pediatric emergency. During the diagnostic approach, it is crucial to obtain a detailed case history, including: onset of weakness, history of associated febrile states, ingestion of toxic substances/toxins, immunizations, and family history. Neurologi...

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Main Author: Ricardo Pablo Javier Erazo Torricelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações
Series:Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2017000400248&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Ricardo Pablo Javier Erazo Torricelli
author_facet Ricardo Pablo Javier Erazo Torricelli
author_sort Ricardo Pablo Javier Erazo Torricelli
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Acute muscle weakness in children is a pediatric emergency. During the diagnostic approach, it is crucial to obtain a detailed case history, including: onset of weakness, history of associated febrile states, ingestion of toxic substances/toxins, immunizations, and family history. Neurological examination must be meticulous as well. In this review, we describe the most common diseases related to acute muscle weakness, grouped into the site of origin (from the upper motor neuron to the motor unit). Early detection of hyperCKemia may lead to a myositis diagnosis, and hypokalemia points to the diagnosis of periodic paralysis. Ophthalmoparesis, ptosis and bulbar signs are suggestive of myasthenia gravis or botulism. Distal weakness and hyporeflexia are clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome, the most frequent cause of acute muscle weakness. If all studies are normal, a psychogenic cause should be considered. Finding the etiology of acute muscle weakness is essential to execute treatment in a timely manner, improving the prognosis of affected children.
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series Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
spelling doaj-art-5a2285af375647748bfcd4e2a2d45f6a2025-08-20T03:19:21ZengThieme Revinter PublicaçõesArquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria1678-422775424825410.1590/0004-282x20170026S0004-282X2017000400248Acute muscular weakness in childrenRicardo Pablo Javier Erazo TorricelliABSTRACT Acute muscle weakness in children is a pediatric emergency. During the diagnostic approach, it is crucial to obtain a detailed case history, including: onset of weakness, history of associated febrile states, ingestion of toxic substances/toxins, immunizations, and family history. Neurological examination must be meticulous as well. In this review, we describe the most common diseases related to acute muscle weakness, grouped into the site of origin (from the upper motor neuron to the motor unit). Early detection of hyperCKemia may lead to a myositis diagnosis, and hypokalemia points to the diagnosis of periodic paralysis. Ophthalmoparesis, ptosis and bulbar signs are suggestive of myasthenia gravis or botulism. Distal weakness and hyporeflexia are clinical features of Guillain-Barré syndrome, the most frequent cause of acute muscle weakness. If all studies are normal, a psychogenic cause should be considered. Finding the etiology of acute muscle weakness is essential to execute treatment in a timely manner, improving the prognosis of affected children.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2017000400248&lng=en&tlng=endebilidade muscularpoliomielitesíndrome de Guillain-Barrébotulismomiastenia gravis
spellingShingle Ricardo Pablo Javier Erazo Torricelli
Acute muscular weakness in children
Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria
debilidade muscular
poliomielite
síndrome de Guillain-Barré
botulismo
miastenia gravis
title Acute muscular weakness in children
title_full Acute muscular weakness in children
title_fullStr Acute muscular weakness in children
title_full_unstemmed Acute muscular weakness in children
title_short Acute muscular weakness in children
title_sort acute muscular weakness in children
topic debilidade muscular
poliomielite
síndrome de Guillain-Barré
botulismo
miastenia gravis
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2017000400248&lng=en&tlng=en
work_keys_str_mv AT ricardopablojaviererazotorricelli acutemuscularweaknessinchildren