en
Scientific article
Case report
English

Delayed recognition of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a child: a misleading respiratory distress

Published inThe Journal of emergency medicine, vol. 38, no. 5, p. e59-61
Publication date2010
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute flaccid paralysis in childhood. Respiratory symptoms can mask neurologic signs, leading to a delay in diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: We report this case to highlight the diagnostic difficulty in children suffering from GBS who have respiratory involvement as the main clinical findings on presentation. CASE REPORT: This case report describes a 9-year-old girl presenting with respiratory distress, weakness, limb pain, and hypertension. The severe respiratory involvement due to a Mycoplasma pneumoniae lung infection led to a delay in diagnosing GBS in this child. CONCLUSION: Unexplained weakness, together with respiratory involvement and associated dysautonomia, should support the possibility of GBS.

Keywords
  • Child
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome/*complications/*diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/*complications/radiography
  • Respiratory Insufficiency/etiology
Citation (ISO format)
LACROIX, Laurence Elisabeth et al. Delayed recognition of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a child: a misleading respiratory distress. In: The Journal of emergency medicine, 2010, vol. 38, n° 5, p. e59–61. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.02.063
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ISSN of the journal0736-4679
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