RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A profile of childhood neuropathies at a University Hospital in Oman
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 450
OP 456
VO 23
IS 4
A1 Roshan Koul
A1 Alexander Chacko
A1 Hashim Javed
A1 Khalid Al-Hinai
A1 Matthew Zachariah
A1 Srinivas Bulusu
A1 Thirapathur V. Rao
YR 2002
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/23/4/450.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To analyze all cases of childhood neuropathies (under 14 years of age) and report on their profile, pattern, clinical features and management.METHODS: Children with acute flaccid paralysis, longstanding weakness of extremities, neuroregression and children receiving anti cancer drugs with symptoms suggestive of neuropathy were evaluated for evidence of peripheral neuropathy. The evaluation of children with acute flaccid paralysis was a prospective study from January 1992 through to December 2000. The rest of the patients were studied retrospectively from the hospital medical records, pediatric neurology outpatient clinic and the neurophysiology laboratory, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al-Khod, Oman.RESULTS: Eighty-two (39 Male: 43 Female) children were found to have peripheral neuropathy. Acute Guillian-Barre syndrome was the most common with 37 children (45.1%), followed by genetic neuropathies [hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with 17 (20.7%), hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy with 2 (2.4%), hereditary spastic paraplegia associated neuropathy with 9 (11%) and metachromatic leucodystrophy with 9 (11%)]. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy was seen in 5 (6.1%) and vincristine induced neuropathy in 3 (3.5%) children.CONCLUSION: Acute Guillian-Bare syndrome is the most common neuropathy amongst the acquired neuropathies. The treatable neuropathies constituted 54.7% (45 children) and the preventable genetic neuropathies accounted for the remaining 45.3% (37 children)