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Febrile myoclonus: a missed clinical diagnosis

Urmila Chauhan1, Preeti Shanbag, Veerabhadra Mallad

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, ESI-PGIMSR, MGM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai-12, Maharashtra, India, drurmilachauhan@yahoo.co.in.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|January 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Febrile myoclonus, characterized by jerky movements with fever, is often misdiagnosed as febrile seizures. Recognizing this benign condition prevents unnecessary medical interventions and hospitalizations.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Myoclonic jerks associated with fever are rarely reported.
  • These episodes are frequently misdiagnosed as febrile seizures in clinical practice.

Observation:

  • The dramatic presentation of febrile myoclonus can lead to extensive diagnostic workups.
  • Three cases of febrile myoclonus are presented to illustrate the condition.

Findings:

  • Febrile myoclonus is a benign neurological condition.
  • Distinguishing it from febrile seizures is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Implications:

  • Early recognition by physicians can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.
  • Avoidance of invasive diagnostic procedures like lumbar puncture and electroencephalogram is possible.
  • Appropriate diagnosis ensures timely and effective management of febrile myoclonus.

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