Cerebellar ataxia in childhood: a review of clinical features, investigative findings and aetiology in 30 cases.
The symptoms, neurological deficits and aetiology of cerebellar ataxia were reviewed in 30 children aged from 4 to 16 years, who had been extensively investigated. Fourteen (46.6%) children had perinatal problems, and in 6 (20%), ataxia resulted from these perinatal events. Besides unsteady gait, a common presenting complaint was delayed motor milestones, noted in 15 (50%) patients. In most children (76.6%), clinical examination indicated involvement of more than one of the three main cerebellar divisions, viz archicerebellum, paleocerebellum and neocerebellum. Hypotonia, found in 11 (36.6%) children, was the third most common sign after gait and truncal ataxia. A variety of aetiological factors was identified, the two most frequent being hydrocephalus in 7 (23.3%) children, and perinatal problems in 6 (20%). The findings are discussed against the background of current literature on the subject.
Iloeje
S O
SO
College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu.
D000293:Adolescent; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology