Pitts-Hoppkins Syndrome Post Severe Exacerbation of Asthma: About a Case: 3-Year-Old Child

Abstract

In some children recovering from an acute asthma attack, flaccid paralysis similar to poliomyelitis has been observed [1-3]. This condition, first discovered in Australia in 1974, is known as Hopkins Syndrome (HS) [4]. No specific virus was identified in these patients, who were usually correctly vaccinated against poliomyelitis [5]. This disorder primarily affects cells in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. It is characterized by a rapid progression of paralysis usually affecting one limb, leaving the child with severe and permanent weakness. Sensation is usually preserved, and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) analysis often shows a slight increase in white blood cells and a slight increase in protein [6-8]. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) alterations in the anterior horn have been documented [9]. Some children show signs of an underlying immune deficiency [10]. We report the case of a 3-year-old boy who presented with an episode of Hopkins syndrome.