Acute Flaccid Paralysis
Journal Title: Journal Of Pediatric Critical Care - Year 2015, Vol 2, Issue 3
Abstract
Acute flaccid paralysis is an emergency and includes a variety of diagnostic possibilities. Identification of life threatening problems and emergency stabilization should precede further diagnostic evaluation. The common differential diagnoses in the post polio eradication era include Guillain Barre syndrome, acute transverse myelitis and traumatic neuritis. It is essential to rule out reversible causes such as hypokalemia and snake envenomation in the appropriate clinical setting. Stabilization of spine is imperative when trauma is suspected, and early neuroimaging is essential in any child who presents with features of myelopathy to rule out compressive lesions. Careful monitoring of respiratory muscle strength is essential, especially in children who progress rapidly and early institution of mechanical ventilation is essential. Management of these children is largely supportive, and includes appropriate ventilator support, provision of early enteral nutrition, physical therapy, strict asepsis, good nursing care, bowel and bladder care and psychosocial support. Immunotherapy is useful in certain patients with Guillain Barre syndrome, transverse myelitis and myasthenic crisis. Prolonged ventilation is anticipated in children with severe disease and necessitates tracheostomy to increase patient comfort and facilitate weaning from ventilation. Children who are admitted in intensive care for various disease processes may develop weakness due to critical illness related neuromuscular weakness, no effective treatment exists and management is aimed at identification of risk factors and prevention strategies.
Authors and Affiliations
Mullai Baalaaji, Muralidharan Jayashree
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP337099
- DOI 10.21304/2015.0203.00079
- Views 118
- Downloads 0
Gastroesophageal Reflux In Mechanically Ventilated Children: Not A Risk Factor For Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)?
.
Spine and Spinal Cord Injury in Children
Trauma to the spine can cause injuries involving spinal cord, vertebra or both. Although less frequent compared to adults, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (TSCI) in the pediatric population is not rare and has high morbidit...
Pediatric Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation 2015
.
Non-Invasive Bed-Side Assessment of Pulmonary Vascular Resistance in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Aim: To evaluate the degree of pulmonary hypertension as well as alterations in the pulmonary vascular resistance in critically ill children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) using bed-side echocardiography...
Admission Dysnatremia And Dyskalemia In Picu: The Frequency, Severity And Mortality Association
.