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[Bickerstaff syndrome: Case report]
Ana Paula Arias1, Agustina Santoni1, Belén Goenaga1
1Hospital de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, CABA.
Insights
Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, causes acute flaccid paralysis. This case highlights Bickerstaff syndrome, a variant presenting with ataxia and encephalopathy in a child.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
Background:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome is an acute autoimmune polyradiculoneuropathy causing symmetrical, ascending flaccid paralysis and areflexia.
- It is a leading cause of acute flaccid paralysis in children.
- Bickerstaff syndrome is a variant characterized by ataxia, encephalopathy, hyperreflexia, and ophthalmoplegia.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 4-year-old boy presented with symptoms consistent with Bickerstaff syndrome.
- The patient exhibited signs of ataxia, encephalopathy, and ophthalmoplegia.
Findings:
- The case aligns with the diagnostic criteria for Bickerstaff syndrome, a variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
- The presentation in a young child underscores the spectrum of Guillain-Barré syndrome manifestations.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis of Bickerstaff syndrome is crucial for timely intervention.
- Prompt treatment can improve outcomes for children with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome variants.
- This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing diverse presentations of Guillain-Barré syndrome in pediatric neurology.
Abstract:
Guillain-Barré syndrome is defined as an acute polyradiculoneuropathy, with sudden onset and its origin being mostly autoimmune. It is characterized by flaccid paralysis, symmetrical and ascending, together with areflexia, with or without sensory disturbances. It is the primary cause of acute flaccid paralysis in previously healthy children. Guillain-Barré syndrome presents different variants as part of the same spectrum. One of this is the Bickerstaff syndrome, characterized by ataxia, encephalopathy, hyperreflexia and external ophthalmoplegia. Early diagnosis is important with the view to establishing an early treatment that will be beneficial for those patients that progress to a more serious illness. We report the case of a 4-year-old boy who was previously healthy, and then presented symptoms that are compatible with Bickerstaff syndrome.
