Childhood Transverse Myelitis with Atypical Fever Presentation: A Case Report

Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare inflammatory spinal cord disorder, particularly uncommon in children. It is characterized by symptoms such as motor weakness, sensory disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction. This report describes a 10-year-old male presenting with bilateral lower limb weakness, ur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-07, Vol.16 (7), p.e64218
Main Authors: Grezenko, Han, Kanemitsu, Kimberly, Khalid, Khush Bakhat, Payal, Fnu, Versha, Fnu, Kumar, Aakash, Rehman, Shehryar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscesses
Anemia
Antibiotics
Apheresis
Bacterial infections
Case reports
Childhood
Etiology
Fecal incontinence
Feces
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Hemoglobin
Infections
Inflammation
Inflammatory diseases
Laboratories
Magnetic resonance imaging
Paralysis
Pediatrics
Potassium
Proteins
Spinal cord
Steroids
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Summary:Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare inflammatory spinal cord disorder, particularly uncommon in children. It is characterized by symptoms such as motor weakness, sensory disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction. This report describes a 10-year-old male presenting with bilateral lower limb weakness, urinary and fecal incontinence, and high-grade fever. Initial treatment at a local hospital with corticosteroids and antibiotics did not yield significant improvements, prompting advanced care at a tertiary facility. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed a longitudinally extensive TM lesion. Subsequent management with plasmapheresis led to satisfactory clinical improvement. This case highlights the importance of early consideration of TM in pediatric patients with acute neurological deficits and supports the use of aggressive therapeutic strategies for better outcomes.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.64218