[Myasthenia gravis and myasthenic syndromes in children]

Myasthenia gravis is the most frequent abnormality of the neuromuscular junction in adults and children. In its milder forms satisfactory management may be obtained with oral neostigmine, but in more severely affected patients steroid therapy and thymus resection may be necessary. Congenital myasthenic syndrome is rather infrequent but timely recognition an identification are very important because treatment and prognosis vary widely in its different forms. Hypermagnesemia, botulism, organophosphate insecticides, are also highlighted among toxic and metabolic causes of neuromuscular junction abnormality.