[Three infants who suddenly became unwilling to stand up presumably due to acute cerebellar ataxia].
We reported here three infants aged 11 to 12 months who, according to their parents, suddenly became unwilling to stand up. All the patients had barely achieved the ability to stand or to walk at the time of the illness. The symptom developed relatively acutely in the winter months from 1997 to 1998 with a probable preceding infection. On examination, no paralysis of the lower extremities was observed, and muscle weakness was minimal. There were neither violent tremors, nystagmus, nor sensory disturbance. Orthopaedic disorders were considered unlikely. Biochemical examinations of the serum were not diagnostic, and imagings of the central nervous system were normal. Spinal tap revealed mild cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis in two of the patients. All the children showed almost complete recovery without any medication during the following period of 2 days to 2 months. Although no definite signs of ataxia were recognized in the three patients, a diagnosis of acute cerebellar ataxia was considered to be appropriate. Mild, infantile acute cerebellar ataxia may be overlooked because of the obscure complaints of the parents and the difficulty in performing a thorough neurological examination of infants.
Matsuoka
T
T
Department of Pediatrics, Toyonaka Municipal Hospital, Osaka.
Shin
K
K
Honda
A
A
Nagai
T
T
D000208:Acute Disease; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009980:Influenza A virus; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors