title: Uncommon neurologic complications of burns in infants: a parkinsonian extrapyramidal disorder and massive cerebral infarction.
abstract: We report uncommon neurologic complications of moderate to severe burns in two infants aged 13 and 19 months, respectively. The first patient suffered a 25% total body surface area burn to her lower limbs; 3 days later she became mute and irritable, with increasing rigidity of limbs and trunk. Her face was expressionless and she also had mild dysphagea. Muscle-stretch reflexes were brisk and accompanied by episodes of coarse jitteriness. A diagnosis of an extrapyramidal parkinsonian disorder was made. The infant was treated with amantadine hydrochloride, and she recovered completely over a period of 2 months. The second infant was admitted with an extensive burn to his trunk and limbs; 3 days later he became comatose and had intractable seizures, which were more prominent over his right side. Dysphasia and right-sided hemiplegia became apparent; these conditions were and remained permanent, accompanied by focal seizures and a marked cognitive delay. Although relatively uncommon, central nervous system involvement may be a hazardous complication of burns in infants, who thus represent a high-risk group.
authors.affiliation: Child Neurology Unit, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shahar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Keidan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frand
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Barzilay
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000547:Amantadine