title: Unusual case of West Nile Virus flaccid paralysis in a 10-year-old child.
abstract: West Nile virus infection is asymptomatic in most cases. West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease includes encephalitis, meningitis, and/or acute flaccid paralysis. In children, acute flaccid paralysis as the solo presentation of West Nile virus disease is rare. It develops abruptly and progresses rapidly early in the disease course. We report on a 10-year-old child who presented with a slowly progressive left leg flaccid paralysis over 4 weeks. He tested positive for West Nile virus in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Spinal MRI showed enhancement of the ventral nerve roots. This was also supported by electrophysiological studies. One week after the plateauing of his left leg paralysis, he was readmitted to the hospital with left hand weakness. Complete recovery of his recurrent weakness was observed after prompt 5-day course of intravenous immunoglobulin G therapy. However, no improvement was noticed in the left foot drop. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of West Nile virus disease in children presented with a slowly progressive flaccid paralysis, and a recurrent weakness recovered after intravenous immunoglobulin G administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan. fthabit@gmail.com
authors.forename: Farouq I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Thabet
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Servinsky
authors.forename: Fareeha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.forename: Teresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kovas
authors.forename: Timur O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Raghib
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014902:West Nile virus
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous