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[Brachial plexus neuropathy following pyogenic cervical adenophlegmon]
1Service de pédiatrie 2, maternité de Redoute, CHRU de Fort de France, Martinique.
Background:
Brachial plexopathy is rare in children; it may follow a non-specific respiratory infection or occur after a specific viral disease or immunization.
Case Report:
An 8 year-old girl was admitted suffering from presuppurative acute cervical adenitis. She was given penicillin V, netilmicin and corticosteroids. The adenitis gradually resolved over a period of ten days. There was no evidence of a specific bacterial infection. The patient suffered from pain localized to her right shoulder 15 days after admission; this pain was resolved within 3-4 days but was followed by paralysis affecting the upper brachial roots without sensory signs. EMG performed 15 days later showed signs of denervation. Amyotrophy set in rapidly but recovery under physiotherapy was complete 5 months later.
Conclusion:
This plexopathy resembling the Parsonage-Turner syndrome could be allergic in pathogenesis although similar cases after bacterial, possibly streptococcal, infection remain to be confirmed.