[Bickerstaff syndrome: Case report]

Arch Argent Pediatr. 2015 Aug;113(4):e226-9. doi: 10.5546/aap.2015.e226.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome is defined as an acute polyradiculoneuropathy, with sudden onset and its origin being mostly autoimmune. It is characterized by flaccid paralysis, symmetrical and ascending, together with areflexia, with or without sensory disturbances. It is the primary cause of acute flaccid paralysis in previously healthy children. Guillain-Barré syndrome presents different variants as part of the same spectrum. One of this is the Bickerstaff syndrome, characterized by ataxia, encephalopathy, hyperreflexia and external ophthalmoplegia. Early diagnosis is important with the view to establishing an early treatment that will be beneficial for those patients that progress to a more serious illness. We report the case of a 4-year-old boy who was previously healthy, and then presented symptoms that are compatible with Bickerstaff syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Ataxia / diagnosis
  • Ataxia / drug therapy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ophthalmoplegia / diagnosis
  • Ophthalmoplegia / drug therapy
  • Reflex, Abnormal