Pediatric neurology
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Since infant botulism was first identified three decades ago, our understanding of botulinum toxins and the organisms that produce them has grown. A newer classification system now recognizes Clostridium baratii and Clostridium butyricum along with Clostridium botulinum as causative agents. ⋯ Perhaps most significantly for pediatricians and child neurologists, a specific treatment for infant botulism has just been approved. This article reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of infant botulism, including human botulism immune globulin, and discusses the various organisms and toxins that cause this disease.
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Pediatric neurology · Nov 2004
Review Case ReportsDevelopment of tuberculoma during therapy presenting as hemianopsia.
A 6-year-old, previously healthy male presented with fever and lethargy. Tuberculous meningitis was suspected after cerebrospinal fluid examination. Antituberculous drugs were administered, and an initial computed tomographic scan of brain revealed mild ventriculomegaly only. ⋯ Visual acuity improved 9 weeks after the onset of visual acuity impairment and returned to normal 24 weeks later. Follow-up computed tomographic scan of brain 1 year later demonstrated complete resolution of tuberculomas. Development of intracranial tuberculoma during antituberculous therapy, although rare, dose not represent treatment failure, and continuation of antituberculous drugs, with or without the addition of steroids, will usually resolve the lesions.
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Pediatric neurology · Oct 2004
Review Case ReportsPediatric tick paralysis: discussion of two cases and literature review.
This report describes two cases of tick paralysis in children diagnosed within a 3-month period (May-July 2002) in rural South Carolina. Differing presenting symptoms consisted of acute onset of ataxia in one patient and acute ascending paralysis in the other. ⋯ The diagnosis of tick paralysis must be considered in any patient, particularly children, who present with either acute ataxia or acute ascending paralysis. As in any clinical encounter, careful history and thorough general and neurologic examinations must be performed to exclude the possibility of tick attachment.
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Pediatric neurology · Jan 2002
ReviewThyrotropin-releasing hormone in the treatment of intractable epilepsy.
Intractable seizures remain a significant therapeutic challenge despite current advances in the treatment of epilepsy. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone, the first neuroendocrine releasing factor to be isolated and fully characterized, was also the first releasing factor investigated as a possible neurotransmitter/neuromodulator outside the hypothalamus. ⋯ Clinically, thyrotropin-releasing hormone treatment has been reported to be efficacious in such intractable epilepsies as infantile spasms, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, myoclonic seizures, and other generalized and refractory partial seizures. Herein, we review evidence that suggests that thyrotropin-releasing hormone and selected thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogs may represent a new class of novel antiepileptic drugs, namely, antiepileptic neuropeptides and provide insights into potential new treatments for the intractable epilepsies.
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Mortality in pediatric epilepsy is the subject of this review. Epilepsy in both adults and children increases the risk of premature death. Conditions that are comorbid with epilepsy may carry an increased mortality risk. ⋯ Cardiac and respiratory mechanisms for epileptic sudden death have been proposed. Reducing the number of seizures should reduce the risk for sudden death. Awareness of the increased risk for premature death associated with epilepsy may enhance patients' and parents' cooperation with therapy.