Ataxia

Question 1

What is this describing?

Uncoordinated movements of the body, unsteady gait, clumsiness and poor balance.

Answer 1

Ataxia

Question 2

What are the causes of ataxia in children?

Answer 2

1. acute cerebellar ataxia within three weeks of a viral febrile illness, commonly chickenpox.
2. can also be an insult to the proprioceptive or vestibular systems.

Question 3

What is this a presentation of?

Recent viral febrile illness, gait and coordination problems, no fever or meningism, normal power and reflexes.

Answer 3

Acute cerebellar ataxia

Question 4

What is this a presentation of?

Viral or bacterial otitis media, otalgia, hearing loss, vomiting. Normal tone, power and reflexes. Ataxia.

Answer 4

Labyrinthitis

Question 5

What is this a presentation of?
Preceding respiratory or gastrointestinal infection, progressive ascending weakness, absent reflexes, sensation preserved, ataxia.

Answer 5

Group B streptococcus

Question 6

What is this a presentation of?
Most common inherited form of ataxia, 8 to 15 years old. Pes cavus, clumsy gait, of vibratory sensation, impaired reflexes, optic atrophy, cardiomyopathy.

Answer 6

Friedrich’s ataxia (autosomal recessive)

Question 7

What is this a presentation of?
Inherited, under 5 years old. Telangiectasia over eye and face, impaired cellular immunity, predisposition to malignancy, unsteady gait.

Answer 7

Ataxia-telangiectasia (autosomal recessive)