Hypokalaemic muscle paresis in children

Seven children with muscle paralysis due to hypokalaemia are reported. In four the weakness was of asymmetrical and patchy distribution invoking an initial diagnosis of poliomyelitis, while the other three children had symmetrical pareses, a more widely recognized presentation. Involvement of bulbar muscles occurred in three, one of whom also had intercostal weakness. Head lag was present in all. The cause of hypokalaemia was malnutrition and/or diarrhoea, but in only one case was the diarrhoea severe enough to prompt the mother to seek medical advice.