Postvaricella acute transverse myelitis: A case presentation and review of the literature

Abstract

Although the complications and sequelae of varicella are rare, they can cause significant mortality and morbidity in both the normal and compromised patient. Eight cases of "pure" acute transverse myelitis (ATM) following varicella have previously been reported in the literature. We report the ninth case of postvaricella ATM in a 9-year-old girl. Her course was characterized by paraplegia, sensory loss, hyperesthesia, and incontinence of urine and feces. All patients, except ours, recovered fully from ATM.