{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T03:17:20Z","timestamp":1787023040579,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"FapUNIFESP (SciELO)","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>ABSTRACT Acute muscle weakness in children is a pediatric emergency. During the diagnostic approach, it is crucial to obtain a detailed case history, including: onset of weakness, history of associated febrile states, ingestion of toxic substances\/toxins, immunizations, and family history. Neurological examination must be meticulous as well. In this review, we describe the most common diseases related to acute muscle weakness, grouped into the site of origin (from the upper motor neuron to the motor unit). Early detection of hyperCKemia may lead to a myositis diagnosis, and hypokalemia points to the diagnosis of periodic paralysis. Ophthalmoparesis, ptosis and bulbar signs are suggestive of myasthenia gravis or botulism. Distal weakness and hyporeflexia are clinical features of Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, the most frequent cause of acute muscle weakness. If all studies are normal, a psychogenic cause should be considered. Finding the etiology of acute muscle weakness is essential to execute treatment in a timely manner, improving the prognosis of affected children.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1590\/0004-282x20170026","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,4,27]],"date-time":"2017-04-27T15:24:23Z","timestamp":1493306663000},"page":"248-254","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Acute muscular weakness in children"],"prefix":"10.1590","volume":"75","author":[{"given":"Ricardo Pablo Javier Erazo","family":"Torricelli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna,  Chile; Clinica Alemana,  Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"530","reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"ref1","first-page":"55","article-title":"Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in the Netherlands","volume":"76","author":"Oostvogel PM","year":"1998","journal-title":"Bull World Health Org"},{"key":"ref2","series-title":"Neurologic emergencies","volume-title":"Pediatric neuromuscular emergencies","author":"Leshner RT","year":"1984"},{"key":"ref3","first-page":"9","article-title":"Par\u00e1lisis fl\u00e1cida aguda","volume":"66","author":"Erazo R","year":"1995","journal-title":"Rev Chil Pediatr"},{"issue":"2","key":"ref4","first-page":"131","article-title":"Par\u00e1lisis fl\u00e1cida aguda","volume":"34","author":"Campos-Olaz\u00e1bal P","year":"2002","journal-title":"Rev Neurol"},{"key":"ref5","first-page":"S149","article-title":"Debilidad muscular aguda: diagn\u00f3sticos diferenciales","volume":"57","author":"Antoniuk SA","year":"2013","journal-title":"Rev Neurol"},{"key":"ref6","series-title":"Aids to the examination of the peripheral nervous system","year":"1981"},{"issue":"48","key":"ref7","first-page":"425","article-title":"Acute flaccid paralysis surveillance: a global platform for detecting and responding to priority infectious diseases","volume":"79","year":"2004","journal-title":"Wkly Epidemiol Rec"},{"key":"ref8","series-title":"Pediatric neurology Part II","first-page":"1255","volume-title":"Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis","author":"Tenembaum S","year":"2013"},{"issue":"7625","key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"852","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.39367.426655.AD","article-title":"Polio: an end in sight?","volume":"335","author":"Reynolds T","year":"2007","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"3","key":"ref10","first-page":"164","article-title":"Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in Iraq: 1998 to 2011","volume":"11","author":"Jasem JA","year":"2014","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"issue":"13","key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"936","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM199909233411302","article-title":"Neurologic complications in children with enterovirus 71 infection","volume":"341","author":"Huang CC","year":"1999","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"16","key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1279","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM2002c021587","article-title":"A poliomyelitis-like syndrome from West Nile virus infection","volume":"347","author":"Leis AA","year":"2002","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"issue":"3","key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.1177\/088307380001500308","article-title":"New concepts of Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome","volume":"15","author":"Asbury AK","year":"2000","journal-title":"J Child Neurol"},{"key":"ref14","series-title":"Neuromuscular disorders of infancy, childhood and adolescente: a clinical approach","first-page":"407","volume-title":"Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome","author":"Sladky JT","year":"2003"},{"issue":"1","key":"ref15","first-page":"84","article-title":"S\u00edndrome de Guillain Barr\u00e9 en pediatr\u00eda","volume":"69","author":"Erazo Torricelli R","year":"2009","journal-title":"Medicina (B. 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