title: Acute Generalized Weakness.
abstract: Weakness is a common complaint in the emergency department, and a most challenging one, because before the emergency physician can proceed with an evaluation, the complaint of weakness must be fully clarified to determine about what the patient is actually complaining. This article will focus on causes of acute generalized nontraumatic bilateral weakness. Evaluation begins with the history and physical examination, followed by diagnostic testing in some cases.
authors.affiliation: University of Central Florida College of Medicine, 6850 Lake Nona Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827, USA. Electronic address: lathagantimd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Latha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ganti
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, North Florida Regional Medical Center, 6500 W Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Vaibhav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rastogi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010808:Physical Examination
keywords: Acute weakness; Botulism; Guillain-Barre syndrome; Myasthenia gravis; Periodic paralysis; Tick paralysis; Transverse myelitis