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Acute childhood ataxia: 10-year experience
M A Gieron-Korthals1, K R Westberry, P J Emmanuel
1Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa.
Journal of Child Neurology
|October 1, 1994
Summary
Acute childhood ataxia is often caused by acute cerebellar ataxia, ingestion, or Guillain-Barré syndrome. A thorough history, physical exam, and drug screen are recommended before costly tests for effective management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Acute ataxia in children presents a diagnostic challenge with diverse etiologies.
- Effective and cost-efficient management strategies are crucial for pediatric patients presenting with acute ataxia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively assess the main etiologies of acute childhood ataxia.
- To identify factors influencing effective and cost-efficient management planning for acute pediatric ataxia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 40 cases of acute childhood ataxia.
- Analysis of discharge diagnoses, patient history, laboratory tests (drug screen, lumbar puncture), and neuroimaging (CT, MRI).
Main Results:
- The most common diagnoses were acute cerebellar ataxia (ACA), ingestion, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), accounting for 80% of cases.
- ACA was prevalent in children under 6 with preceding viral illness or varicella.
- Drug screens were highly informative, with 17 of 35 positive; neuroimaging had a low diagnostic yield.
Conclusions:
- Acute childhood ataxia typically results from benign, self-limiting conditions.
- Prioritizing thorough history, physical examination, and drug screening can guide management and potentially avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and invasive tests.
- Judicious use of neuroimaging is advised due to its limited utility in diagnosing acute pediatric ataxia.