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Post-varicella myasthenia gravis

A Saha1, P Batra, K Y Vilhekar

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra, India.

Singapore Medical Journal
|June 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A three-year-old boy developed myasthenia gravis after chickenpox, presenting as the youngest reported case. This post-varicella autoimmune condition responded well to treatment, with no symptom recurrence.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting neuromuscular junctions.
  • Post-infectious autoimmune syndromes can occur following viral illnesses.

Observation:

  • A three-year-old boy presented with ptosis two weeks after varicella (chickenpox) infection.
  • This represents the youngest reported patient with post-varicella myasthenia gravis.

Findings:

  • Repetitive nerve stimulation confirmed a decremental response, indicative of neuromuscular transmission impairment.
  • The patient showed a dramatic response to neostigmine and improved with pyridostigmine treatment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights varicella as a potential trigger for myasthenia gravis in children.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing post-viral myasthenia gravis in pediatric patients.

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