Poliomyelitis-like syndrome following asthmatic attack (Hopkins syndrome)

A 12-year-old boy is described with a combination of right arm paralysis resembling poliomyelitis and severe asthma. At 4 years of age, he developed flaccid paralysis one day after a severe asthma attack. No etiologic factors could be found for his flaccid paralysis. Nineteen patients with similar poliomyelitis-like illnesses following asthmatic attack are reviewed.