Pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant Guillain-Barré syndrome in a child.
The pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome is uncommon but well recognized in the adult literature. Patients have weakness in a pharyngeal-cervical-brachial distribution with relative lower limb sparing. We describe a 12-year-old boy with predominantly pharyngeal-cervical-brachial weakness and subsequent respiratory failure. Owing to prominent bulbar symptoms, he was initially misdiagnosed as having epiglottitis. This case illustrates that the clinical spectrum of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children includes the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant, which is distinct from Miller-Fisher syndrome. Atypical Guillain-Barré syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child presenting with bulbar palsy and/or respiratory failure.
MacLennan
Suzanna C
SC
Department of Neurology, Sydney Children's Hospital, Australia.
Fahey
Michael C
MC
Lawson
John A
JA
D002648:Child; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*