Benign acute childhood myositis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical and laboratory features of benign acute childhood myositis.


METHODS
40 children of BACM were seen during October 2001 to February 2002, 22 (52%) were male with mean age of 5.3 years. Duration of illness was 3.97 days. Preceding symptoms included fever, leg pain, vomiting and inability to walk. A provisional diagnosis of viral myositis was made in 26 (66%). Guillian Barre Syndrome was the most common referral diagnosis.


RESULTS
11 (27.5%) children had leucopenia with lymphocytic response and 16 (40%) had thrombocytopenia. CRP was negative in 32 (80%). CPK was markedly elevated (more than 1000 IU/l) in 18 (45%) and more than 500 IU/l in 11 (27.5%) remaining between 200 to 500 IU/l. Associated features were hepatitis (elevated SGOT & SGPT) in 28 (70%) and shock in 5 (12.5%). Serological test were indicative of dengue virus (Elisa PAN BIO) in 20 (50%) of which 8 (25%) were primary dengue and 12 (30%) were secondary dengue. The outcome of therapy mainly supportive were excellent.


CONCLUSIONS
Benign acute myositis occurs often in association with viral infection. In the present study, Dengue virus was positive in 20 (50%) children. Benign acute myositis can be differentiated from more serious causes of walking difficulty by presence of calf and thigh muscle tenderness on stretching, normal power and deep tendon reflex and elevated CPK.
Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, India. saralarajajee@yahoo.com
Sarala
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Rajajee
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Ezhilarasi
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K
Rajarajan
D000208:Acute Disease; D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome