Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, commonly call | Paediatrics videos & books

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, commonly called Guillain-Barré syndrome, is an ascending paralysis with a hallmark of absent reflexes. There may also be some nominal sensory deficits as well, but they are not as striking as the paresis. Methylphenidate toxicity usually results in seizures and tachycardia. In children with malingering, reflexes are usually present, as they are not under cognitive control. Reflexes are also present in children with polymyositis. Children with polymyositis will usually have fever and muscle pain with weakness, as well. With the use of the polio vaccines (OPV or IPV), poliomyelitis is no longer present in wild type in the United States. Guillain-Barré is usually a self-limited disease. The most common complication is respiratory failure. The paresis usually advances for 48–72 hours and then will slowly recede. The use of corticosteroids is not recommended. Plasmaphoresis is used in the following situations: progressive paresis, nonambulatory patients, or bulbar or respiratory involvement. As this child’s disease has plateaued at the time of evaluation, plasmaphoresis would be of little benefit.