Asian paralysis syndrome

Abstract

We report 20 children admitted to the paediatric ward of a public general hospital for acute flaccid paralysis, which was bilaterally symmetrical in all cases and was associated with bulbar involvement in eight of them. Recovery was partial. Nerve conduction studies showed motor axonal neuropathy. This new disease, variously termed as non-inflammatory neuropathy/Chinese paralysis syndrome must be differentiated from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and poliomyelitis. Both GBS and Asian paralysis syndrome have bilaterally symmetrical flaccid paralysis but GBS tends to have sensory involvement, full recovery occurs in 90% of cases and nerve conduction shows demyelinating neuropathy. Asian paralysis syndrome and poliomyelitis are pure motor lesions without sensory changes and partial recovery, but poliomyelitis differs in that paralysis is asymmetrical and unequal, muscle spasm is always present in the initial stage and there are prodromal symptoms. Nerve conduction studies show anterior horn cell disease. This new entity, common in Asian populations, assumes public health importance when it mimics poliomyelitis in a country that has tried to eliminate poliomyelitis by universal immunization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Asian paralysis syndrome in children in our area.